Overview
- The Mets activated Luis Robert Jr. before Monday’s game in Milwaukee after a nearly three-month absence for a lumbar spine disk herniation and placed him in the starting lineup in center field.
- Manager Andy Green said the team will play Robert roughly two games out of three at first and will reassess his workload in a few weeks to monitor his back and readiness.
- To open a 40-man roster spot for Robert, the club optioned infielder Eric Wagaman to Triple-A Syracuse and outrighted infielder Zack Short to Syracuse.
- Top prospect A.J. Ewing, who had been the regular center fielder during Robert’s injury, was moved to a corner outfield spot, creating short-term positional shifts for Juan Soto and Carson Benge.
- Robert was acquired in January in the trade that sent Luisangel Acuña and Truman Pauley to the White Sox, and his return provides the Mets a healthy centerpiece in center while influencing possible roster moves before the trade deadline.