Hot stuff: Robert aims to make instant impact with Chicago White Sox
Before he strikes fear into other major-league pitchers, Luis Robert took a swing at White Sox teammate Dylan Cease during Monday's workout at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Not a literal one, a bat-meets-ball swing.
"He squared me up good on one of them today," Cease said.
It was only batting practice, and the Sox are still shaking off the rust after the coronavirus pandemic halted play for over three months.
That being said, Robert is still looking to make a big impact during the upcoming short season.
"I'm pretty sure I'm going to be able to start the season pretty hot and display all my talent," the White Sox's rookie center fielder said through a translator after Monday's workout.
The Sox were looking forward to Robert displaying his multiple tools over a regular 162-game season. They'll settle for a 60-game look.
Cease is just happy the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Robert will be on the same side when the short season opens July 24 with a home game against the Twins.
"I think the biggest thing is just how big he is," Cease said. "I think I saw on Twitter, someone tweeted an Under Armor mannequin and it's actually pretty accurate. That's what he looks like.
"Besides today, I haven't really gotten an opportunity to watch him a whole lot. He looks like he's going to be a very talented player."
After signing a six-year, $50 million contract (with two club options) on Jan. 2, Robert joins a Sox team loaded with young talent. Eloy Jimenez will be right next to him in left field.
"Luis Robert is a great guy," the 23-year-old Jimenez said. "When I met him a couple years ago I said, 'When we play together I'm going to take care of you because you are my boy.' Now, we are together and he has kind of the same contract like me and I know what it feels like and I'm going to help him."
A prized prospect since leaving his native Cuba and joining the White Sox in late May of 2017 after agreeing to a $26 million signing bonus, the 22-year-old Robert is coming off a monster season last year.
In 122 combined games with high Class A Winston-Salem, AA Birmingham and AAA Charlotte, the right-hander hit .328/.376/.624 with 31 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, 92 RBI and 36 stolen bases.
Jimenez also put up big numbers in the minor leagues, as did White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada and shortstop Tim Anderson.
All three struggled when they first reached the major leagues, and Robert figures to have some of the same issues, especially at the plate.
For as good as USA Today's minor-league player of the year was in 2019, Robert struck out 129 times in 551 plate appearances.
Like Jimenez last season and Moncada in 2018, Robert is very likely to see a steady diet of off-speed pitches early. He'll have to show he can adapt without the luxury of a full slate of games.
"If for whatever reason I don't start the season as hot as I know I can, I will do my best to make the adjustments as fast as I can," Robert said. "But, of course, that's not my mindset right now. I will have to adjust as much as I can if I have any trouble."
Speaking of Moncada, he was not at Monday's workout.
"I'm just holding him out right now," Sox manager Rick Renteria said. When asked for a reason, Renteria said, "I cannot comment on that."