After years of inconsistency in a collapsing White Sox environment, Luis Robert Jr. now enters 2026 with the Mets surrounded by energy, expectations, and a spotlight that may bring back his All-Star form.
Now in camp with the New York Mets after an offseason trade, center fielder Luis Robert Jr. is getting his first taste of a Major League organization outside of the Chicago White Sox.
Robert signed with the White Sox when he was just 19 years old, back in May 2017, as an international free agent.
He got paid immediately with a reported $26 million signing bonus and was instantly hyped as one of the best young prospects in baseball. Five-tool center fielders with elite speed, Gold Glove defense, and easy home run power don’t come around often.
Robert was a finalist for AL Rookie of the Year in 2020 after making his MLB debut at 22 years old. While he dealt with injuries and inconsistency early in his career, he flourished in 2023 — launching 38 home runs and earning an AL All-Star selection.
And yet, just a few years later, Robert is coming off back-to-back disappointing seasons. The White Sox traded him this winter in what was essentially a salary dump to the New York Mets, looking to offload his $20 million contract.
It’s easy to debate Robert’s on-field potential, talk about the injury risk, and wonder whether he’ll recapture that 2023 magic in New York.
But perhaps there’s another variable at play here that isn’t being discussed enough.
Environment.
When Robert was called up in 2020, he joined a White Sox team with real aspirations. They made the playoffs in the COVID-shortened season. The following year, despite Robert missing significant time with injury, the White Sox won the AL Central and returned to the postseason.
Robert Jr. was in a winning environment. He was surrounded by Cuban-born stars like José Abreu, Yasmani Grandal, and Yoán Moncada.
And when he was on the field — he thrived. A .946 OPS through 68 games in 2021 gave White Sox fans every reason to believe he was becoming one of the sport’s premier young stars.
Even in 2022 and 2023, as the White Sox began their rapid decline toward the bottom of the standings, both seasons opened with expectations.
In 2022, the goal was to repeat as AL Central champions. Instead, they finished 81–81 and missed the playoffs.
In 2023, fans were sold on a bounce-back year — a return to 2021 form. Obviously, that didn’t happen, and the White Sox lost over 100 games.
But the team that entered that season was competitive on paper. There was still energy. Still hope.
Even some of the moves that look questionable in hindsight — like handing the starting right field job to prospect Oscar Colás — injected youth and intrigue into the lineup. That kind of atmosphere matters for a player like Robert.
It helps that Robert and Colás are close personal friends off the field.
It wasn’t until 2024, after the White Sox had traded away much of their core and fully committed to a rebuild, that Robert’s production truly cratered. The ballpark was empty — sometimes even on weekends. The team lost more games than any club in modern history. And Chicago’s star player looked like a shell of himself for two straight seasons.
It carried into 2025 — at least until the young core sparked an inspired second-half stretch. For a brief moment, it felt like Robert was returning to form.
Then another injury ended his season.
All of this to say: I think Luis Robert Jr. might simply be a player who thrives when the lights are brightest. I think he needs energy. Purpose. Expectations.
He has that in Queens with the Mets.
When asked during spring training to identify the biggest differences between the Mets and the White Sox, the first thing he mentioned was the spotlight.
"I think the biggest difference is the amount of people around… When you have those goals and expectations, there are obviously going to be more eyes on the team,” he said through his translator at a Mets press conference this week.
Combine that with a strong Spanish-speaking presence in the Mets clubhouse — and the early reports of Robert bonding with Juan Soto this spring — and Queens may be providing the healthy baseball environment that Robert he hasn’t had in years.
One that could unlock his best self.
In mentioning that possibility, I do not mean to be overly critical of the White Sox or suggest that the Mets do everything perfectly. And yes, the "environment" might feel like a minor detail.
But if you’ve followed Robert’s career, you understand how closely his performance has mirrored his surroundings.
In 2026, we may finally get clarity on whether the issue was the White Sox… or Luis Robert Jr. himself.