CHICAGO — Luis Robert Jr. returned to his roots Friday, but the vibe sure had changed since his departure.
A White Sox team that had become something of a punchline in recent seasons was first in the AL Central, firmly in position to bring rare October baseball to this city’s South Side.
“This is a team that will always have a special place in my heart,” Robert said through an interpreter before going 1-for-3 with a double in the Mets’ 6-4 loss to the White Sox on a walk-off home run at Rate Field. “I keep tabs of the results of the games, and I am really proud to see how they are performing this season.”
Robert, 29, played his first six major league seasons for the White Sox before the Mets acquired him in a January trade that included Luisangel Acuña departing Queens.
But Robert’s experience with the Mets has mirrored his last seasons with the White Sox, in which he spent significant time on the injured list and played for teams well removed from the playoff race by August. Robert spent nearly three months on the injured list this season with lumbar disc herniation before rejoining the team July 20.
Robert entered play with an underwhelming .652 OPS. And the Mets, despite 11 victories in 15 games, began the day 58-70 and 10 games behind in the race for the NL’s final wild-card spot.
“This season has been pretty similar to how other parts of my career have gone, where I have been hurt, where I have been off the field,” Robert said. “But right now I think the most important thing for me is to finish the season strong and go out there and try to be the best version of myself.”
The Mets tried to trade Robert before the Aug. 3 deadline, but were unsuccessful. It has left Robert as a spare part who is receiving playing time as Juan Soto rehabs a calf strain.
Rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing are pieces in the team’s future, and Soto remains a fixture with his record $765 million contract. It has left Robert in the position of knowing the Mets are unlikely to exercise their $20 million option on him for next season.
“When you are talking about the young guys, you are talking about guys who have a really bright future, who are really impactful,” Robert said. “And then you have Juan Soto, who is a veteran, who is going to be here for a while. I think from the perspective of the outfield construction, [the future] is really bright.”
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The present includes Robert sometimes in left field — a position he played Sunday for the first time in his major league career after appearing exclusively in center. Robert returned to left field for Friday’s series opener.
“I have only played one game there and honestly I can say it was pretty easy,” Robert said. “I didn’t get any balls hit to me, no fly balls, no ground balls. I hope there can be a little more activity or I can be a little more a part of the game out there.”
The White Sox lost at least 100 games in each of Robert’s final three seasons with the club. Included was a 2024 nightmare in which the White Sox set a modern major league record with 121 losses.
But an infusion of young talent, along with the signing of Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami, has helped revive the franchise.
“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” Robert said of the White Sox success. “Before I got traded in the offseason, I saw the moves they were making, the necessary moves to improve the team and that is what they are doing.”
