The New York Mets' injury woes continue to mount, as the team announced Thursday that center fielder Luis Robert Jr. has been placed on the 10-day injured list with a lumbar spine disc herniation.
The 28-year-old hasn't taken the field since the first game of Sunday's doubleheader against the Colorado Rockies, initially sidelined with what the team described as lower back tightness. An MRI on Wednesday revealed the more serious diagnosis, with the IL move retroactive to April 27.
Manager Carlos Mendoza confirmed that Robert received an epidural and has been instructed to rest for seven to 10 days. Team doctors are optimistic he could return shortly after that period, but the frustration is palpable in the clubhouse.
"It's just frustrating from both ends — for Luis, for us," Mendoza said before the series finale against the Washington Nationals. "But we've got to get him back right."
This marks the 10th IL stint for Robert since 2021, adding to a lengthy injury history that includes issues with his right hip, right knee, left wrist, left hamstring, and even blurred vision. The former Gold Glove winner has managed to play more than 110 games in a season just once — in 2023, when he finished 12th in AL MVP voting after launching 38 home runs for the Chicago White Sox.
The Mets acquired Robert from the White Sox in January in exchange for Luisangel Acuña, hoping his elite defensive skills would shore up their up-the-middle defense. To preserve his health, the team limited him to back field duty for most of spring training — a strategy that unfortunately hasn't paid off so far.
Robert showed flashes of his potential early, hitting a home run and driving in five runs in the first two games of the season. But he's struggled since, collecting just five hits in his last 38 at-bats dating back to April 13, dropping his season average to .224.
"He's super frustrated — yesterday and this morning, when he got the news — because he's done everything we're asking him to do," Mendoza added.
Robert is the second Mets player to land on the IL with a lumbar spine issue this week and the third opening day position player currently sidelined. Starting pitcher Kodai Senga (lumbar spine inflammation) was placed on the 15-day IL on Tuesday, joining shortstop Francisco Lindor (left calf) and first baseman Pete Alonso (right wrist) on the growing list of unavailable stars.
For Mets fans, it's becoming a familiar refrain: a roster loaded with talent, but struggling to keep that talent on the field. Stay tuned for updates on Robert's recovery and how the team plans to navigate this latest setback.