NEW YORK — Luis Robert Jr. is creating a significant initial impact at Citi Field.
Among a Mets roster brimming with fresh faces, the Cuban All-Star patrolling center field has achieved the most rapid emergence.
Robert blasted a three-run home run during the final half of the 11th inning on Saturday, propelling New York to a 4-2 triumph against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The 28-year-old Robert, obtained from the Chicago White Sox in a January transaction, additionally contributed two RBI singles on Thursday and executed a commendable defensive maneuver, aiding the Mets in securing their inaugural season win.
“These preceding two contests have genuinely been extraordinary,” Robert conveyed via an interpreter.
As the Mets were behind 2-1 in the 11th frame, fourth-spot hitter Jorge Polanco secured a leading walk — his fifth complimentary base in two appearances for the team. With the designated runner, Bo Bichette, positioned at second base, Robert stooped and sent a 1-0 slider pitched by novice southpaw Hunter Barco soaring beyond the left-center boundary on a blustery, 42-degree afternoon.
“My expectation was a fastball in that situation. My aim was to achieve solid contact simply to, at minimum, equalize the score, and it resulted in a long ball,” Robert stated. “I was aware I connected with it effectively. I simply wasn’t certain if it had cleared the fence given it’s a new venue, the low temperature, and I couldn’t acquire the precise sensation from it. However, I knew I had struck the ball forcefully.”
This inaugural deep drive for the Mets marked the second game-ending blast of his professional journey. The previous instance occurred during his debut season with the White Sox when facing Kansas City on August 30, 2020.
“He possesses immense talent. He is naturally skilled. Even on that most recent pitch, I believed the hurler placed it precisely low and outside, and he managed to reach it and connect,” Mets skipper Carlos Mendoza commented.
“Considering today’s atmospheric circumstances, particularly the direction and strength of the wind from left field, for him to be capable of clearing the fence in such a scenario truly underscores this individual’s exceptional qualities.”
The 6-foot-2, 225-pound Robert has consistently displayed formidable strength, swiftness, and captivating inherent ability. Nevertheless, ailments have hindered his progress, yet he comprehensively assembled his skills for an entire season in 2023, accumulating 38 home runs, 80 runs batted in, 20 stolen bases, and an .857 OPS across 145 contests for the White Sox.
He earned a spot in the All-Star showcase and claimed a Silver Slugger accolade, complementing his 2020 Gold Glove recognition and his second-place standing in the American League Rookie of the Year ballots during that period.
Primarily due to his inclination to pursue pitches outside the strike zone, Robert commenced Saturday’s play possessing a career on-base percentage of merely .313. However, he successfully negotiated a 10-pitch walk in his initial plate appearance for the Mets on Thursday versus the current National League Cy Young Award recipient, Paul Skenes, and obtained a further complimentary base on Saturday.
“We have dedicated significant effort to that particular aspect,” Robert commented. “I believe a distinguishing characteristic of exceptional athletes is their proficiency in choosing the appropriate pitches to attack. For me to revert to the caliber of player I once was and know myself to be, I anticipate that will constitute a crucial element of my performance.”
The Mets are observing highly promising indications from the initial contributions of their recently acquired center fielder.
“Quite heartening,” Mendoza remarked. “Moreover, even in the plate appearance preceding that one, he refrained from swinging at several breaking balls to establish favorable counts. He positioned himself to receive advantageous pitches to strike, and he maintains this approach.”
