Polanco homers in rehab game; Robert plays 9 innings in center field
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A pair of offseason acquisitions who have been sidelined due to injury since late April continued to make their way toward a return to the Mets' lineup on Thursday. Center fielder Luis Robert Jr. and infielder/designated hitter Jorge Polanco each played for Triple-A Syracuse in a 7-5 loss to Worcester at NBT Bank Stadium.
Robert, whom the Mets acquired in a trade with the White Sox this past offseason, has been recovering from a lumbar spine disc herniation, which landed him on the injured list on April 30. Thursday's game was his second with Syracuse. He went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts after going 1-for-2 with a single and a walk on Tuesday. Prior to being placed on the IL, the 28-year-old had a .656 OPS with two home runs in 24 games for New York.
Prior to joining the Mets, Robert had only played in more than 110 games in a season once, in 2023. That was an All-Star campaign in which he posted an .857 OPS with 38 home runs and 20 steals in 145 games for Chicago.
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Polanco, who turns 33 on Sunday, was playing in his sixth game with Syracuse on Thursday as he works his way back from left Achilles bursitis. He had to shut down a rehab assignment last month because of continued soreness in his left ankle.
Polanco, whom the Mets signed to a two-year, $40 million contract last December, homered and drew a walk in three trips to the plate. Entering the game, he was 0-for-13 over his first five games with Syracuse. Prior to going on the IL on April 18, he had a .179/.246/.286 slash line for the Mets.
Polanco was an All-Star with the Twins in 2019, and he had a strong age-31 campaign last year with the Mariners, finishing the regular season with an .821 OPS and 26 homers before hitting three homers and delivering a walk-off single for Seattle in the postseason.
Robert and Polanco, along with infielder Bo Bichette, were the key additions to a new-look lineup for the Mets, who also dealt multiple players who had been staples in their lineup in recent years. So far, due to injuries (particularly to star shortstop Francisco Lindor) and underperformance, New York has struggled offensively in 2026 -- only the Red Sox and Padres have scored fewer runs this season.