New York Mets center fielder Luis Robert Jr. launched a 451-foot home run on Tuesday in Milwaukee, a blast that drew gasps of disbelief from his dugout teammates. The towering shot came in the eighth inning of the Mets' 4-1 victory against the Brewers.
Robert Jr., playing in just his second game since April 26, connected with a pitch from reliever Bryse Wilson. Brewers left fielder Jackson Chourio watched the ball disappear over the left-field wall without attempting a play. Back in the Mets dugout, players reacted with visible astonishment, with starting pitcher Zac Thornton captured on camera with his mouth agape and arms raised.
The home run marked Robert Jr.'s third of the season. He finished Tuesday's game 1-for-5 at the plate. He had been activated from the 60-day injured list prior to Monday's game, where he went hitless. Robert Jr. had been sidelined for nearly three months with a lumbar spine disc herniation.
His return to the lineup signifies the first time the Mets have had their complete envisioned roster on the field simultaneously this season, as various injuries had previously prevented the team from fielding their full offseason acquisition. Interim manager Andy Green now has additional lineup flexibility, particularly in center field, where A.J. Ewing had provided strong defense and an OPS-plus of 116 during Robert Jr.'s absence.