New Mets Stars Bo Bichette and Luis Robert Adjust to Big Apple

Bichette struggles early as Robert shines in first week with new team

Mar. 31, 2026 at 8:36pm

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A fractured, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game or match, with the players and field broken down into sharp, overlapping geometric shapes in vibrant colors representing the uniforms of the Mets and Cardinals.The Mets' new stars Bo Bichette and Luis Robert navigate the high-pressure environment of New York baseball in contrasting ways.NYC Today

In their first week with the New York Mets, star offseason acquisitions Bo Bichette and Luis Robert have had very different starts to the season. Bichette, the former Blue Jays All-Star, has faced early struggles at the plate, going 1-for-14 with 8 strikeouts in his first series and getting booed by Mets fans. Meanwhile, Robert, the former White Sox outfielder, has hit .455 with 5 RBIs in his first 3 games, including a dramatic walk-off home run. The two players are navigating the high-pressure environment of playing in New York in very different ways.

Why it matters

The Mets made a big splash this offseason by trading for Bichette and signing Robert to bolster their lineup, but their early performances have highlighted the challenges of adjusting to playing in the New York media market. How Bichette and Robert handle these early ups and downs could set the tone for the Mets' season and determine if the team's high-profile offseason moves pay off.

The details

In his first series as a Met, Bichette struggled mightily, going 1-for-14 with 8 strikeouts. The home crowd at Citi Field booed Bichette for his slow start, but the 25-year-old handled the criticism with maturity, admitting he was trying to do too much and "wanting to have a big moment" in his Mets debut. Meanwhile, Robert has hit the ground running, batting .455 with 5 RBIs, 3 runs scored and 3 walks in his first 3 games, including a dramatic walk-off home run against the Pirates. The Mets are hoping to carefully manage Robert's workload and keep him healthy after he's averaged just 96 games per season in his career.

  • On Sunday evening, about 20 minutes after the Mets' first loss of the season, Bo Bichette spoke to the media.
  • In the 11th inning of a frigid Saturday night at Citi Field, Luis Robert hit a three-run walk-off home run against the Pirates.
  • The Mets gave Robert a day off on Monday, the first of many that will be incorporated into his season to aid in his recovery and keep him healthy.

The players

Bo Bichette

A two-time MLB All-Star who was acquired by the Mets in the offseason. In his first series with the Mets, Bichette struggled at the plate, going 1-for-14 with 8 strikeouts and getting booed by the home crowd.

Luis Robert Jr.

An outfielder who was acquired by the Mets in the offseason after playing 6 seasons with the Chicago White Sox. In his first 3 games with the Mets, Robert has hit .455 with 5 RBIs, 3 runs scored and 3 walks, including a dramatic walk-off home run.

Juan Soto

The Mets' star outfielder who is batting behind Bichette in the lineup.

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What they’re saying

“Sometimes in-between, sometimes trying to do too much. That's pretty much what happens when you don't feel good.”

— Bo Bichette

“It's a different feeling when you come to the ballpark and you have the chance to win every day, to go to the playoffs, to go to the top of the top. It's just a different feeling in all aspects.”

— Juan Soto

“It's really special, honestly. To be able to do it here? These last two games have really been special.”

— Luis Robert

What’s next

The Mets will continue to closely monitor Luis Robert's workload and recovery to keep him healthy throughout the season. Meanwhile, Bo Bichette will look to build on his go-ahead RBI single in Monday's game against the Cardinals as he tries to get his season back on track.

The takeaway

The early contrasting performances of Bo Bichette and Luis Robert highlight the challenges and opportunities that come with playing in the high-pressure, win-now environment of the New York Mets. While Bichette has struggled to adjust, Robert has embraced the chance to compete for a championship, showing the potential upside of the Mets' offseason moves. How these two stars navigate the rest of the season will be crucial to the Mets' success.