Man, remember when the Mets shelled out to bring in Luis Robert Jr.? It felt like a no-brainer back in January, right? The guy was supposed to be their everyday center fielder, a massive offensive upgrade over what they had, a real game-changer. But what looked like a slam dunk acquisition then? In October, it’s a totally different story.
The Big Promise That Just Couldn’t Stick
Robert Jr. arrived with some serious hype. We’re talking about the enticing possibility of 25+ home runs, elite center field defense, and above average speed on the bases. The tools were there, even if some of the underlying numbers made you scratch your head a bit. But, true to form for much of his career, injuries just kept getting in the way. He landed on the Injured List with back issues on April 30 and didn’t even get back on the field until July 20. And the team he returned to? It was absolutely nothing like the one he left.
A.J. Ewing Stepped Up, And Stepped In
While Robert Jr. was rehabbing, A.J. Ewing stepped into center field and basically started doing his best impression of what Robert was supposed to be. Ewing played nearly twice as many games as Robert did that season. And while Robert put up a .223/.303/.399 slash line with 10 dingers in his 58 games, Ewing actually out-homered him with 11 blasts, hitting .252/.324/.376. Sure, Ewing wasn’t perfect, and his age and inexperience showed at times, meaning he’s got work to do. But his natural abilities, especially his blazing speed on both offense and defense, proved he could grow into exactly the kind of player Robert Jr. was at his peak. The kicker? Ewing was doing it all for the league minimum salary. Talk about a steal.
When Robert Jr. finally came back from the IL, Ewing had cemented himself as the everyday guy in center. It quickly became clear Robert Jr.’s time with the Mets was probably short-lived. They couldn’t find a trade partner for him, and by August, the Orioles claimed him off waivers. With a hefty $20 million option on the table for Robert Jr., the Mets just couldn’t justify keeping him as a fourth outfielder, especially with Ewing locked in as their starter. You can’t blame them for wanting to develop a young, cost-controlled player over paying big money for an older one, right? It’s a real shame how it ended for Robert Jr. with the Mets, because he absolutely looked like a fantastic fit with his power, decent speed, and elite center field defense. But sometimes, baseball just goes that way.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Amazin’ Avenue.
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