Are White Sox contenders with addition of Robert?
When Yoan Moncada went down to Class AAA Charlotte on a rehab assignment in August, he noticed prized Chicago White Sox prospect Luis Robert was anxious, wondering why the club had not called him up.
After all, Robert had scalded the ball at his previous two levels in the minors last year.
And he wound up putting up a .974 on-base plus slugging percentage in Charlotte.
Moncada had gone through a similar experience three years before, tearing it up at Class A and AA before getting a late-season callup to the majors – where he flopped in an eight-game look-see.
So, he tried to instill patience in his fellow native of Cuba.
“I told him not to worry, that everything would come in due time,” said Moncada, now Chicago’s standout third baseman at 24.
“He had to get a bit more experience in Triple-A and get a sense for a higher caliber of baseball. I think he’s ready for this level now.”
That’s what the White Sox are banking on as they transition into Phase II of a rebuild that began three years ago and is starting to show signs of paying off.
Robert, a 22-year-old center fielder, fits right in the middle of the desired transformation from longtime sub.500 team into a contender, along with fellow outfielder Eloy Jimenez, Moncada, shortstop Tim Anderson and pitchers Lucas Giolito and Michael Kopech.
Anderson is the oldest at 26. The White Sox haven’t made the playoffs since 2008 and posted only two winning seasons in that stretch, but they’re starting to generate some excitement as the young talent they’ve piled up begins to yield results.
And here comes Robert, an athletically gifted physical specimen who stands 6-3, runs like the wind and is widely considered one of the game’s top prospects.
He was named USA TODAY Sports’ Minor League Player of the Year last season.
General manager Rick Hahn calls him “a scout’s dream.”
Having long enjoyed success with Cuban players – such as Jose Abreu, Alexei Ramirez and Jose Contreras – the White Sox lured Robert with a $26 million bonus in May 2017, six months after he defected from the island.
Across the three minor-league levels, including 47 games at AAA, he batted .328 with a 1.001 OPS, 32 homers, 36 steals, 11 triples and 92 RBIs.
CACTUS LEAGUE SCHEDULE
Saturday’s games
Dodgers vs. Giants at Scottsdale, 1:05 p.m.
Brewers vs. Rangers at Surprise, 1:05 p.m.
Athletics vs. Cubs at Sloan Park, Mesa, 1:05 p.m.
Angels (ss) vs. White Sox at Camelback Ranch, Phoenix, 1:05 p.m.
Reds vs. Indians vs. Goodyear, 1:05 p.m. Diamondbacks vs. Rockies at Salt River Fields, Scottsdale, 1:10 p.m. Mariners vs. Padres at Peoria, 1:10 p.m. Royals vs. Angels (ss) at Tempe, 1:10 p.m.