Mets’ Luis Robert Jr. back, ready to play his game after 'frustrating' extended absence
· Yahoo Sports
Luis Robert Jr. didn’t expect to miss much time when he first landed on the IL.
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The oft-injured slugger had been progressing well in his recovery, but his neck didn’t respond to treatment how the Mets had hoped, leading to an extended absence.
Robert, sidelined since late-April, landed on the 60-day IL.
After weeks of building himself back up in the minors, though, he was finally deemed ready and was activated prior to Monday night’s series opener against the Brewers.
“The process, it’s no secret it was a long one,” he said through a translator. “It was difficult and frustrating -- but now I feel good thank God, and I’m just here and ready to go play my game.”
Before being sidelined, Robert stood alone as the Mets’ everyday centerfielder.
Top prospect A.J. Ewing filled in admirably in his absence, though, sliding right in as a regular atop New York’s lineup and in the middle of their defense.
Now with Robert back, it’ll be interesting to see how the playing time shakes out.
Interim manager Andy Green said pregame that the initial plan is for the 28-year-old to play two-out-of-three days for now, and then they’ll reevaluate things in a few weeks.
Robert is expected spent most of his time in center, pushing Ewing over to a corner spot.
That’s how things shake out Monday, as he slides between Ewing (RF) and Juan Soto (LF) while Carson Benge sits against Brewers ace righty Jacob Misiorowski.
Green will mix-and-match as he sees fit, but this plan could also change in the next two weeks if the Mets are able to find someone willing to take on Robert ahead of the trade deadline.