Robert set to rejoin White Sox Monday vs. Twins

A very good White Sox team is about to get even better.

Center fielder Luis Robert, who tore his right hip flexor while running to first base in a May 2 game against Cleveland, is returning to the Sox's starting lineup Monday at Minnesota.

"Good news," manager Tony La Russa said. "Guys are fired up. We're all fired up."

Robert played his 12th and final minor-league rehab game Saturday night before being cleared to rejoin the White Sox. Playing eight games with Class AAA Charlotte and four with high A Winston-Salem, he batted .268 with 1 home run, 6 RBI and 2 stolen bases.

"You want to respect all the guys that played in his place, but when everybody reported in spring training the team you wanted to see had Luis and (Eloy Jimenez) playing a lot," La Russa said. "So having them both at the same time, having Yaz (catcher Yasmani Grandal) back one of these days, that's something we look forward to."

Jimenez returned to the Sox on July 26 after missing four month with a ruptured left pectoral tendon. He spent weeks with Robert recovering in Arizona and his looking forward to reuniting with his close friend.

"I pretty much talk to him every day to see how he feels, to see how he feels when he plays, running," Jimenez said. "I always keep him in my mind because he's my brother. Sometimes you need someone to talk to. I'm always that guy to talk to him. It's going to be fun when he comes back."

In 25 games with the White Sox this season, Robert hit .316 with 9 doubles, 1 homer, 8 RBI and 4 stolen bases.

La Russa said Robert will be in the starting lineup Monday night against the Twins.