The New York Mets shared news about injured outfielder Luis Robert Jr. before a matchup against the Washington Nationals on Thursday, April 30.
Robert was placed on the 10-day injured list with what was described as a lumbar spine disc herniation. The outfielder had been out of the lineup since Sunday, April 26. The Mets recalled infielder Eric Wagaman to take Robert’s place on the roster. New York claimed Wagaman off waivers from the Minnesota Twins earlier this week.
After a strong first week of the season, Robert had struggled recently. His batting average fell to .224 following a 0-for-3 performance in his last game against the Colorado Rockies. It was Robert’s third hitless outing in his past four games.
New York Mets News Alert: Luis Robert Jr. to the IL, Eric Wagaman Recalled
The news comes as a disappointing development for a Mets squad that sits in the basement of the NL East. Washington pounded New York by a score of 14-2 on Wednesday, April 29. The blowout loss dropped the Mets to 10-20, the worst record in the league. The club was previously tied with the Philadelphia Phillies, who got rained out on Wednesday, saving them a game in the loss column.
New York traded for Robert this past offseason. The Mets sent infielder Luisangel Acuña and right-hander Truman Pauley to the Chicago White Sox. The 28-year-old Robert has spent his entire six-year MLB career in Chicago. He debuted with the team during the shortened 2020 season and quickly emerged as an everyday option in the outfield.
Robert has slashed a solid .258/.313/.450 as a big leaguer. He has 104 home runs and an identical amount of stolen bases. Robert graded out as a solid center fielder in his career. He’s racked up 18 Defensive Runs Saved across 4,950.1 innings at the position. Injuries are the main drawback with Robert. The outfielder has played more than 110 games just once during his tenure in the majors. He put together a banner campaign in 2023, slugging 38 home runs and stealing 20 bases in 145 games.
Robert Injury Opens Roster Spot for Wagaman
Wagaman is no stranger to the NL East. The 28-year-old served as the full-time first baseman for the Miami Marlins last season. He delivered an uninspiring 85 wRC+ in 140 games. Wagaman debuted with the Los Angeles Angels in 2024. He played in just 18 games with the Halos, popping two home runs in 74 plate appearances.
Though he’s largely been a corner infielder, Wagaman has experience in left field and right field. He picked up 13 starts in the outfield with the Marlins in 2025. Wagaman has not played center field as a professional. The Mets will need another option to replace Robert up the middle. The leading candidate is rookie Carson Benge. The rookie has split his time between left field and right field in his first stint as a big leaguer, but has recently moved over to center.
Benge has a decent amount of professional experience in center field, but it’s mostly come at the lower levels of the minors. He’s been worth -2 DRS in his brief MLB career.
Mets Announce Luis Robert Jr. News Ahead of Nationals Game