Prospect Robert has room to grow
Adding strength, muscle will be big part of his development
Physique- wise, prized center- field prospect Luis Robert passed the eye test walking around the White Sox’ major- league clubhouse during spring training.
In fact, Robert looks like he already has arrived physically. But there’s still room on his 20- year- old frame for added strength and muscle.
‘‘ He’s a young, gifted kid — gifted, meaning his body,’’ Sox director of conditioning Allen Thomas said. ‘‘ But he’s really raw. I don’t think he’s spent a lot of time in the weight room.’’
The 6- 2, 210- pound Robert, who signed for a $ 26 million bonus last May after coming over from Cuba, looked fluid, fast and strong during his first weeks at spring training before spraining a ligament in his left thumb while sliding into second base.
But there’s more in there, and the Sox’ conditioning staff has designs on getting it out of Robert, who is the 21stranked prospect in baseball by FanGraphs.
‘‘ I don’t think he’s trained with a purpose,’’ Thomas said. ‘‘ He’s probably going to gain 12 to 18 pounds [ in the next few years].
‘‘ When we got [ shortstop] Tim Anderson [ at age 20], he was 155 pounds. Tim is 179, 180 right now. So those things are going to happen. Some go the opposite way, but not a body type like Robert’s.’’
Robert’s skills are apparent, but a vital part of his development will take place in the weight room and in his kitchen. Fellow Cuban Jose Abreu said he changed his diet after coming to the United States and is better for it. And Robert, whose locker was next to Abreu’s in camp, also will have to adapt.
‘‘ Without nutrition, strength and conditioning, guys are not going to improve,’’ director of player development Chris Getz said.
‘‘ At first glance with Luis, you’re looking at a physically gifted individual. He has had some training, but in terms of preparing him for professional baseball life, there definitely is an education process that we’ve started.’’
Robert said through an interpreter that he had done some abdominal work and limited strength training in the past but that his body came as is for the most part.
‘‘ Yes, it’s natural,’’ Robert said. ‘‘ I have room to get bigger, but in a good way, not gaining [ too much] muscle. I know to improve my strengths as a baseball player I have to explore that. I still have plenty of room to grow.’’’
Robert’s thumb will be in a cast for another 3 ½ weeks, and he is expected to be out until mid- May. The Sox knew he would play at the Class A level this summer, but they didn’t know whether he would start at low- A Kannapolis or high- A Winston Salem. That was going to depend on how he performed this spring.
‘‘ If his rehab goes smoothly, it’s fair to assume he’ll be at Winston- Salem,’’ Getz said.
‘‘ He has the potential to have an impact game pretty much in all aspects. The speed component stands out as the most immediate, but he has power potential, hitting ability and, with his speed, can cover a lot of ground defensively.’’
Robert went from playing in the Dominican Summer League last year to major- league camp and Cactus League games this spring, a challenging advance. And what stood out most for Getz was Robert’s plate discipline.
‘‘ He was swinging in the zone; he was laying off tough breaking pitches,’’ Getz said. ‘‘ Hewas having good at- bats.’’
The injury cut Robert’s time short, but ‘‘ he’s still going to get plenty of season this year,’’ Getz said. ‘‘ There’s a lot to look forward to.’’
Robert already looks strong. He did, after all, hit a grand slam not knowing his thumb was sprained. It proved to be his last at- bat of the spring.
‘‘ If we get a chance to work with a guy like that, we can mold him and get him better,’’ Thomas said. ‘‘ We can get him stronger.
‘‘ He’s nowhere near his maximum strength.’’