Luis Robert Jr. Returns to a Changed White Sox Landscape

CHICAGO — Luis Robert Jr. made a return to his former team on Friday, but it felt quite different from when he left.

The Chicago White Sox, previously regarded as the butt of jokes in recent years, are now leading the AL Central, putting them in a strong position to potentially bring rare postseason baseball to the South Side.

“This team will always have a special place in my heart,” Robert shared through an interpreter, after going 1-for-3 with a double in the Mets’ 6-4 loss against the White Sox, which ended on a walk-off home run at Rate Field. “I follow their games closely, and I’m really proud of how they’re doing this season.”

At 29, Robert spent his first six years in Major League Baseball with the White Sox before being traded to the Mets in January, in a deal that sent Luisangel Acuña to New York.

However, Robert’s time with the Mets has paralleled the latter part of his time with the White Sox, where injuries kept him sidelined and teams were out of playoff contention by August. This season, he spent nearly three months on the injured list due to lumbar disc herniation before returning on July 20.

He started the game with a less-than-stellar .652 OPS, while the Mets, despite a recent surge of 11 wins in 15 games, found themselves 58-70 and ten games behind the NL’s last wild card spot.

“This season has somewhat mirrored earlier points in my career, with injuries keeping me off the field,” Robert noted. “But for now, it’s crucial for me to finish strong and show my best self.”

The Mets attempted to trade Robert before the August 3 deadline but weren’t successful, leaving him in a position where he’s playing while Juan Soto is recovering from a calf strain.

With rookies Carson Benge and A.J. Ewing emerging as future assets, and Soto locked in with a record $765 million deal, it seems unlikely the Mets will take up their $20 million option on Robert for next season.

“Talking about the young guys, they have bright futures and are impactful,” Robert expressed. “Then there’s Juan Soto, a veteran who will be around for a while. I think from an outfield construction perspective, the future looks promising.”

Currently, Robert has been playing left field, a position he occupied for the first time in his major league career last Sunday, after previously being a center fielder. He returned to left field for Friday’s opener.

“I’ve only played one game there, and honestly, it felt pretty easy,” Robert added. “I didn’t have any balls hit to me—no fly balls, no grounders. I hope to have more chances to be involved in the game from that position.”

During Robert’s last three seasons with the White Sox, the team lost over 100 games each year, including a particularly grim 2024 season in which they set a modern major league record with 121 losses.

Nonetheless, the franchise has seen a revival with a fresh influx of talent, particularly with the signing of Japanese star Munetaka Murakami.

“It doesn’t surprise me at all,” Robert remarked about the White Sox’s turnaround. “Before I got traded, I noticed the moves they were making—the improvements they were pursuing. That’s clearly what they are doing now.”