After a decade of failed expectations and unflattering success, there is a sense of excitement that surrounds Comiskey Park these days on the south side of Chicago.
That might be due to the emergence of rookie White Sox outfielder Luis Robert.
The big framed, highly touted, No. 1 ranked prospect in the White Sox organization has exceeded expectations in the first 13 games of the season and has fans smiling ear-to-ear as the franchise sits just three games back of the division leading Minnesota Twins.
Although there is a lot of season left to be played and a lot of bats to be had for Robert, there’s no denying he’s an exceptional ball player.
Here are three things you need to know about Luis Robert.
Early Years
Big frame, premium bat speed and raw power. These are just a few athletic traits included in Robert’s scouting report
When Robert arrived in America from Cuba in 2017, the powerful 19-year old outfielder was highly sought after international prospect by a handful of teams.
In 192 games and 711 plate appearances in the Serie Nacional and playing for a Cuban team in the Can-Am League, Robert hit .314/.409/.467. This caught the eye of White Sox general manager Rick Hahn as he inked the top prospect to a minor league deal that included a $26 million dollar bonus.
Immediately, he was optioned to the Dominican Summer League (DSL) White Sox where he quickly showcased his talent. In 28 games, he posted a .310 batting average with three home runs, 14 RBI, 22 walks and 12 stolen bases.
It was then, baseball enthusiasts and White Sox fans finally had something to look forward to for the first time in over a decade.
Young Phenom
Lighting in a bottle is one of many expressions you could use to describe Robert’s 2019 season.
Between Class A Winston-Salem, Class AA Birmingham and Class AAA Charlotte, Robert wowed fans with his incredible power and straightaway speed. He finished the season with 31 doubles, 11 triples, 32 home runs, 92 RBI, and swiped 36 bases in 122 games.
This carried the Chicago White Sox prospect to only the fourth 30-homer, 30-steal season in the minors this decade. His dominant season earned him a six-year, $50 million contract with the White Sox this offseason.
That’s a lot of money for a player that has never played on the big stage, but can you blame a franchise that hasn’t won a title in 15 years, or made a playoff appearance in a decade?
Swinging into the new season
Could you ask for a better start from one of the top prospects in your organization?
Through 13 games this season, Robert has been brilliant. The rookie phenom has 17 hits, 2 home runs, and a .327 batting average. His 17 hits through 13 games are the most for a White Sox hitter since Craig Wilson in 1998.
Robert doesn’t care if you throw a top flight fast ball or a back door breaking ball. If you leave a pitch up in the zone, he will make you pay for it.
He currently boasts a .957 OPS and is hitting the sweet spot of his bat 36.4 percent of the time.
On Sunday night at Kauffman Stadium in Kansas City, Robert annihilated a first pitch fastball dealt by Royal RHP Ronald Bolaños, that traveled 415 feet over the center field wall. It was Robert’s second home run of the season.
Robert is also hitting the ball very hard. Per fangraph.com, when it comes to exit velocity, he’s one of just 15 players to hit multiple batted balls over 110 mph this year, and he is near the top of the top tier of the league in batted balls hit over 100 mph.
This is only the beginning for Robert. I’m scared to see what will happen three years from now. Until then, the future looks bright for the young astounding rookie.
If he keeps this up, he might run away with the AL Rookie of The Year award.