Luis Robert Jr. was scheduled to play another minor league rehab game Tuesday with Double-A Binghamton, but interim manager Andy Green said at Citi Field that Robert would only “work out” and “hopefully” play for Binghamton on Wednesday.
For a team that’s been beset by injuries to key players all season, it’s become impossible to predict when anyone might return to the major league lineup.
After a 16-12 loss to the Royals, Robert said through an interpreter he felt “really good” and the organization wanted him to avoid any setbacks.
As for a return to the Mets, Robert said, “I don’t know how close we are yet.”
Robert has played three rehab games with Triple-A Syracuse after being on the IL since April with a lumbar spine disc herniation.
“It’s hard to be out and it’s something that’s happened a good amount in my career,” said Robert, who battled injuries in each of the previous two seasons with the White Sox. “But I haven’t missed this amount of time since 2021, so it’s frustrating.”
With rookies A.J. Ewing and Carson Benge playing center and right field, respectively, on a consistent basis, and Juan Soto entrenched in left, Green was asked how Robert’s potential return might impact the outfield alignment.
“We’ll cross that bridge when we get there,’’ Green said of how the outfield would look with Robert. “All of those guys will be part of the mix. We’ll create the best matchup for those guys and continue to challenge A.J. and Carson to develop and be winning baseball players. They’ve done that very well.”
Including Tuesday, when Ewing had four hits and reached base five times and Benge reached base four times.
“I’m comfortable in the box right now,’’ Ewing said.
The Mets were the recipients of a three-run gift in the bottom of the first, as Benge hit a Little League homer on his grounder back to pitcher Seth Lugo. Lugo’s throw got away from first baseman Jac Caglianone, who then threw wildly to no one in particular, before third baseman Nick Loftin tossed the ball away again.
Benge, Ewing and Bo Bichette all scored on the play. Green said he’d never seen a play with as many “ping-pong throws back and forth.”
With Jorge Polanco reinstated from the 60-day IL, Ronny Mauricio was optioned to Triple-A Syracuse to open a spot on the 26-man roster.
Mauricio hasn’t done much in the majors this season, appearing in just 17 games and posting an OPS of .440.To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Polanco, right-hander Alex Carrillo was designated for assignment.
Carrillo, 29, appeared in 21 games with Syracuse this season and last pitched for the Mets last year.
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Right-hander Guillo Zuñiga was also designated for assignment after righty Matt Seelinger was selected to the major league roster following the trade that brought him from Detroit on Monday.
Green said Marcus Semien (left hip flexor strain) ran at 80 percent Monday.
He added the second baseman is “progressing well, but that doesn’t mean we have a [return] date yet.” Without Semien, Brett Baty made his 10th straight start at second.
After making his MLB debut as a September call-up in 2023, then missing all of the following season due to a torn ACL, the 25-year-old has failed to solidify a spot on the roster.
