Luis Robert is about to be on the doorstep of the major leagues.
White Sox general manager Rick Hahn announced before Saturday's game against the Cubs that the organization's top-ranked prospect will head to Triple-A Charlotte after Sunday's Futures Game rather than head back to Double-A Birmingham.
Robert leaked that news a tad early, posting about it on social media Saturday, but it doesn't change the reward he'll get for what has been to this point a remarkable season in the minor leagues. He was superhuman in 19 games to begin the season at Class A Winston-Salem, slashing an ungodly .453/.512/.920, sparking a quick promotion to Birmingham, where he did just as well, with a .314/.362/.518 slash line in 56 games. Combined between the two levels, he’s got 16 homers, 21 doubles, six triples, 53 RBIs, 29 stolen bases and 64 runs scored.
That's, you know, really good.
"There was an extended layoff from the time he defected until the time he was eligible to sign," Hahn said Saturday. "He started (that) year in the Dominican Summer League, so last year was really about get him out playing and let’s have him get the rust shaken off and we’ll let the tools speak for themselves.
"Unfortunately last year, because of the health issues, that never really happened. So now we were looking at almost probably two years removed from playing regularly.
"From our standpoint, once he was out there playing, the tools and the talent level was going to rise to the top, and it would be evident to everybody what this kid is capable of doing. That’s been the most positive thing from my standpoint this year. He’s out there playing regularly, and it’s obvious to all who see him that talent level what he’s capable of doing."
MLB
Robert is being hyped as a five-tool player, a prospect who could end up being the best of the White Sox collection of youngsters. He hits for average, he hits for power, he runs fast, he’s got range for days in the outfield. He can do it all.
Every scouting report has fans salivating, and rightfully so. But before the demands start trickling in that Robert should be promoted to the big leagues right this second (too late), Hahn's advising for everyone to pump the brakes a bit.
"In terms of what that means for his future or larger questions about his timeline to Chicago, quite frankly it’s premature to really speculate along those lines," he said. "He’s ready for that next challenge. In terms of his future timeline and path to Chicago, let’s take the next logical step in his development and see how Triple-A goes and we’ll go from there."
Given the production, it wouldn't be outrageous to suggest that Robert would continue mashing at Triple-A and potentially look big league ready by the end of the minor league season. But he might end up facing some of the same service-time issues that infamously surrounded Eloy Jimenez a year ago. How the White Sox handle that, however, could be totally different if the team is ready to open its contention window beginning in 2020.
But like Michael Kopech and Jimenez before him, Robert's development is not yet done. There will be a list of things the White Sox want to see Robert accomplish before they deem him ready for the majors. Unlike Jimenez, who spent the majority of last season at Charlotte, Robert is heading there with only a couple of months remaining in that season.
"Refining that approach a little bit," Hahn said when asked what Robert will be working on at Triple-A. "I think he’s going to be challenged on the edges and around the zone a little bit more at Triple-A, and it’s going to require perhaps a slight fine-tuning in his offensive approach.
"He’s a dangerous hitter both in and slightly outside of the zone, so we are not expecting him to radically change anything he’s done. But I think the more advanced pitchers might challenge him a different way and that will be good for him. Having him with an at-bat-to-at-bat plan will benefit him in the long run."
But to this point, certainly, Robert has been sensational, every bit deserving of his inclusion in Sunday's Futures Game and his promotion to Charlotte. The next move is the big one, and while White Sox fans bask in the glow of Dylan Cease's presence at the big league level, they'll shift their attention to Robert and his now former Birmingham teammate, Nick Madrigal, and start feverishly awaiting their major league debuts.
Yes, it's another wait. But it might be the last round of waiting they'll have to do before this team turns into a contender.
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