Luis Robert Jr. is getting a fresh start in Queens-and the timing couldn’t be better.
After bursting onto the scene as the American League Rookie of the Year runner-up in 2020, Robert Jr. looked like the next big thing in center field. But the last two seasons in Chicago didn’t go according to script.
Injuries, inconsistency, and a struggling White Sox team saw his production dip, and his star dimmed just a bit. Now, after being traded to the New York Mets this offseason, Robert Jr. has a chance to hit the reset button-and there’s real reason to believe he could return to elite form in 2026.
According to his agent, Scott Boras, two key factors are working in Robert Jr.’s favor: the presence of Juan Soto and the energy of a playoff-contending clubhouse. That’s a potent combination for a player looking to rediscover his rhythm.
“Now Robert Jr. can be around a true superstar,” Boras said on the Foul Territory podcast. “He gets to be around somebody that he goes to daily, and he gets to share.
He walks out of the ballpark, even if it’s a bad day, with comfort and direction. So that he’s excited about coming to the ballpark the next day.”
That kind of environment matters. It’s not just about the numbers-it’s about the mindset. And when a player of Robert Jr.’s caliber is in the right headspace, the results can follow quickly.
Boras revealed that Robert Jr. spent part of the offseason training with Soto at one of the Boras Sport Performance Camps. That’s not just offseason conditioning-it’s a chance to pick the brain of one of the game’s best hitters. And for a player who’s been searching for consistency, that kind of mentorship could be a game-changer.
“He’s got two things that he didn’t have in Chicago,” Boras continued. “He’s got the presence of a superstar to rely on, and he has a chance to win every day.
Those are the kinds of things that invigorate players. And in my mind, it’s going to allow Luis Robert Jr. to have an extraordinary year.
Because he’s a great talent.”
Let’s not forget what Robert Jr. has already shown he can do. Over his first four seasons with the White Sox, he posted 13.1 bWAR, slugged 74 home runs, drove in 210 runs, and carried a 125 OPS+-and that’s despite multiple stints on the injured list.
The tools are there. The ceiling remains sky-high.
But the last two years told a different story. Just 2.8 bWAR combined, with a dip to 28 homers, 88 RBIs, and a significantly lower 85 OPS+.
Injuries played a role, sure, but something was clearly off. That’s where the Mets’ front office saw an opportunity-and it turns out they weren’t the only ones watching closely.
Boras said his team identified a mechanical issue in Robert Jr.’s approach at the plate last summer. They worked with him to make adjustments-subtle changes that helped him get back to being himself in the box.
“We found something that we brought to him in July last year,” Boras said. “About how to get him back to being himself.
What the difference was in his approach. And what he was doing in the batter’s box, and how he managed himself.”
That midseason course correction paid off. Through the end of June, Robert Jr. was slashing .185/.270/.313 with a .584 OPS and just eight home runs-a far cry from his usual production.
But from July on, before a hamstring injury cut his season short, he looked like a different hitter: .293/.349/.459 with six homers and a .808 OPS. That’s a major turnaround, and it’s no coincidence the Mets took notice.
“In our study and evaluation, we knew when he was elite and how he performed at the big-league level,” Boras added. “We had that in our library to be able to illustrate that these adjustments are truly him. Not what he was doing currently.”
Now, Robert Jr. arrives in New York with a clean slate and a clubhouse full of talent. He’s healthy, motivated, and surrounded by players who know what it takes to win. The Mets are betting that the version of Luis Robert Jr. we saw in the second half of last season is the one they’re getting in 2026.
If that’s the case, this could be one of the most impactful moves of the offseason-not just for the Mets, but for a player who’s still got superstar potential written all over him.