Luis Robert Jr. has voiced regret over the way his tenure with the New York Mets unfolded, citing injuries as a primary reason for the team's struggles during the 2026 season. Acquired from the White Sox in the offseason, Robert's time in Queens was marked by a series of setbacks.
A carefully planned schedule was implemented to help him avoid the leg injuries that had plagued him in previous seasons with Chicago. However, after a challenging first month, Robert experienced a nearly three-month absence due to a lumbar spine disc herniation.
Even as he began to find his rhythm, posting a 1.061 OPS over an 18-game stretch in August, A.J. Ewing had already solidified his position as the everyday center fielder. Robert, who was eventually placed on waivers by the Mets on August 31 and claimed by the Baltimore Orioles, reflected on his experience.
"It was difficult," Robert said through an interpreter regarding his time with the Mets, during which he appeared in only 58 games. "We had the talent to be a playoff team and get where we wanted to, but injuries and other stuff happened and it didn’t turn out that way."
The Mets, facing a challenging season, opted to sell at the August 3 trade deadline, but were unable to find a trade partner for the high-salaried and injury-prone Robert. His prolonged absence and limited production contributed to Ewing's emergence, a development the Mets hope will provide a positive outlook for the future.
"I wanted to be able to return from my injury sooner and then when I didn’t get traded [at the deadline], I wanted to contribute as much as possible and stay healthy," Robert stated.
Following his move to Baltimore, Robert was placed on the injured list for a third time with left hamstring discomfort after just three games with the Orioles. "It’s not what I wanted to happen, but I think I’ll be back," he commented.