Robert 'likely' to debut with Dominican Summer League White Sox next week
Next week is stacking up as a memorable one for the Chicago White Sox.
Based on their 78-84 record in 2016, the Sox hold the No. 11 overall pick in the amateur draft, which begins Monday.
Additionally, general manager Rick Hahn told the Daily Herald on Wednesday that 19-year-old outfielder Luis Robert's professional debut with the Dominican Summer League White Sox is going to be "likely some time next week."
Robert, a five-tool talent from Cuba, agreed to a minor-league contract with the Sox on May 27 that included a $26 million signing bonus.
The White Sox had to pay another $26 million in taxes for going over their international bonus pool allotment.
According to Marco Paddy, the Sox's director of international scouting, Robert is going to be well worth the $52 million investment.
Paddy scouted Robert for five years.
"For me, recommending this young man was fairly easy because of the level of ability, the tools that I saw that he had," Paddy said. "The past and now present, it's something you don't see every day. Comparing him to guys that he played with, like (top White Sox prospect Yoan) Moncada at the same time, who I also saw, made it pretty evident to me that this guy has the potential to be a special player in the big leagues."
Robert hasn't played competitive baseball since last July, in his native Cuba.
In 210 career games with Ciego de Avila, the 6-foot-2, 210-pounder batted .315 with 28 doubles, 6 triples, 20 home runs, 92 RBI, 29 stolen bases, a .402 on-base percentage and .467 slugging percentage.
Expected to begin his career at low Class A Kannapolis or high A Winston-Salem, Hahn feels playing for the DSL Sox is the best starting point for Robert.
"I know there's a tremendous amount of enthusiasm about this player and people want to see him play and see him out there in minor-league competition, but we're going to have to be patient with this because he hasn't played in almost a year now," Hahn said. "He has been training now quite frankly more to be a workout warrior than an everyday baseball player.
"We're going to take our time at our complex (in the Dominican Republic), get him back playing games regularly and then get him out there."
Before he's even taken a swing in the DSL, Robert is rated the No. 25 best prospect in baseball by MLB.com.
"If you haven't seen him, you're missing that he presents with all five tools, plus power, plus speed," Hahn said. "We think he has the ability to remain in center field and if for whatever reason he doesn't wind up in the big leagues at center field, he certainly has enough offensive prowess to contribute strongly on either corner.
"It's a rare opportunity to get a guy with this potential level of impact into the organization at only the expense of cash. And while certain players similar like this are available at the very top of the draft, that usually comes after a season of suffering through a high number of losses.
"So this for us is a bit of a shortcut to the top of the draft. We're fortunate to be able to add an 11th (overall) pick here to keep the process moving."