{"id":649674,"date":"2026-03-29T01:55:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-29T01:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/649674\/"},"modified":"2026-03-29T01:55:14","modified_gmt":"2026-03-29T01:55:14","slug":"with-2-star-performances-luis-robert-jr-validating-mets-spring-optimism","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/649674\/","title":{"rendered":"With 2 star performances, Luis Robert Jr. validating Mets\u2019 spring optimism"},"content":{"rendered":"

NEW YORK \u2014 Not since Sidd Finch was singeing catchers\u2019 mitts behind strategically placed curtains<\/a> had the Mets been this excited about action hidden on spring training\u2019s back fields. Luis Robert Jr., they insisted even before he appeared in a Grapefruit League game, was looking good \u2014 X-factor good, middle-of-the-order good, game-changing good.<\/p>\n

Two games into the regular season, Robert has validated that optimism.<\/p>\n

On a frigid day in Queens, Robert drove a slider below the zone through the wind and into the seats in left field for a walk-off three-run homer in Saturday\u2019s 11th inning, lifting the Mets past the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-2. In just their second game of this season, the Mets have as many wins when trailing going into their last at-bat as they did all of last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat was unbelievable,\u201d David Peterson said. \u201cI faced him a lot in spring and was getting tired of facing him. He\u2019s been dialed in since he got here.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s gifted,\u201d manager Carlos Mendoza said. \u201cEven that last one there, the pitcher executed down and away. He goes and gets it, and with the conditions today, to be able to leave the yard, it shows you this guy\u2019s special.\u201d<\/p>\n

WELCOME TO THE NEW YORK METS, LUIS!!! pic.twitter.com\/kSJOou0hhu<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 New York Mets (@Mets) March 28, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

On Thursday, it was Robert\u2019s 10-pitch walk against Paul Skenes<\/a> that accelerated New York\u2019s five-run first and Skenes\u2019 early exit. Through two games, he has reached in half of his 10 plate appearances.<\/p>\n

\u201cThese two games have really been special,\u201d Robert said through interpreter Alan Suriel.<\/p>\n

Long a target for the Mets\u2019 front office, Robert became the final piece of their reshuffled offense when acquired from the Chicago White Sox for Luisangel Acu\u00f1a in January. The additions of Bo Bichette and Jorge Polanco have helped New York recreate the imposing top half of the order that carried it for stretches last season. Bringing in Robert raised the ceiling for the lineup: While below average in each of the last two seasons, he\u2019d been one of the game\u2019s best offensive center fielders before that, provided he was on the field.<\/p>\n

And so the Mets established two main goals for Robert between the trade and Opening Day: Create a better routine to keep his lower half healthy, and work consistently at refining his eye at the plate. That\u2019s why so much of his spring was spent on the back fields at Clover Park, rather than on its main stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe one thing that great players have is knowing how to select the proper pitches to swing at,\u201d Robert said. \u201cFor me to go back to the player I was and I know I\u2019m capable of being, that\u2019s going to be a big part of my game.\u201d<\/p>\n

That will be a season-long challenge for Robert. Even with some drawn-out counts and a pair of walks in two games, he has been leaving the strike zone about as often as in the last two years. And his swing on Hunter Barco\u2019s slider below the zone Saturday was a reminder that it\u2019s not always a bad thing for him to go golfing.<\/p>\n

The second game of the season, especially for a Mets team accustomed to dominating Opening Day, can often present cold truths \u2014 and not just with a game-time temperature 24 degrees colder than it had been 48 hours earlier. That new-look offense might be stymied by Mitch Keller rather than boatracing Skenes. Their four-shortstop infield might look like it could use more established corner infielders. Four straight leadoff hitters reaching base might fail to circle the bases. And that bases-loaded, no-out spot to go win the game in the 10th might fall unfathomably by the wayside.<\/p>\n

With one swing, Robert expunged that frustration.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey kept grinding until they broke through,\u201d said Peterson, who kept the Pirates off the board through 5 1\/3 innings.<\/p>\n

The Mets famously finished last season 0-for-76 when trailing entering the ninth inning. They did, however, win one game in April when they fell behind in extras, the way they did Saturday. Still, when it\u2019s early enough to view most everything about this team through the prism of 2025\u2019s failures, a comeback like Saturday\u2019s was a nice step.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an early sign of resilience,\u201d Peterson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a different group,\u201d Mendoza said. \u201cYou just continue to feel good about your chances.\u201d<\/p>\n