Luis Robert Jr.

Luis Robert Moirán Jr. (born August 3, 1997) is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2020.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Robert and the second or maternal family name is Moirán.
Luis Robert Jr.
Robert with the Charlotte Knights in 2019
Chicago White Sox – No. 88
Outfielder
Born: (1997-08-03) August 3, 1997
Guantánamo, Cuba[1]
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 24, 2020, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through May 16, 2023)
Batting average.287
Home runs48
Runs batted in158
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Cuba
15U Baseball World Championship
Silver medal – second place 2012 Chihuahua Team
18U Baseball World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Taichung Team

Professional career

Cuban National Series

Robert played in the Cuban National Series for Ciego de Ávila from 2013 to 2015.[2][3]

Minor leagues

In November 2016, Robert defected from Cuba to pursue a Major League Baseball (MLB) career in the United States.[4][5] On April 20, 2017, he was declared a free agent, but he was not eligible to sign with any major league club until May 20.[6][7]

On May 27, 2017, Robert signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox that included a $26 million signing bonus.[8][9] After signing, he reported to the DSL White Sox and played 28 games there, posting a .310 batting average with three home runs, 14 RBIs, 22 bases on balls, and 12 stolen bases.[10]

In 2018, Robert made his first start at outfield in a spring training game and hit a two-out, go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning, lifting the White Sox to a 14–12 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.[11] However, Robert was placed on the injured list for two months after the game, because he had sprained a ligament in his left thumb while sliding into second base.[12][13]

Robert began 2019 with the Winston-Salem Dash;[14] he was promoted to the Birmingham Barons on April 30.[15] Robert was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[16] On July 11, he made his debut with Class AAA Charlotte, where he hit two home runs in his first game with seven runs batted in. Robert joined the 30/30 club by hitting 30 home runs and stealing 36 bases during the 2019 season.

In 2019, he scored 108 runs, the second most in the minor leagues, and he led the minors with 165 hits.[17]

Rookie season and Gold Glove Award (2020)

On January 2, 2020, Robert agreed to a six-year, $50 million contract with the Chicago White Sox before appearing in a major league game.[18] The contract includes team options for 2026 and 2027 which, if exercised, could bring the value of the contract to $88 million.[19] On July 24, he made his MLB debut. July 26, he hit his first MLB home run.[20]

In August 2020, Robert batted .298/.356/.660, including seven doubles, nine home runs, 20 runs batted in, and three stolen bases over 26 games. He won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Month Award, his first monthly award in the major leagues.[21] Overall in 2020, he batted .233/.302/.436 over 202 at-bats.[22] Robert hit his first postseason home run in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Oakland Athletics off of Mike Fiers. His 487-foot home run was the longest postseason home run in White Sox history.[23] He also won the Gold Glove Award for center field, becoming the second White Sox player in history to win the award in his rookie season.[24] Robert also finished 2nd in AL Rookie of the Year voting losing to Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners.

2021

Robert slashed .316/.359/.461 in 25 games through May 2, when he suffered a complete tear of his right hip flexor. The injury required a rehabilitation period of three to four months before he could resume baseball activities.[25][26] On May 27, he was placed on the 60-day injured list.[27] He was activated off the injured list on August 9. Overall, Robert hit .338 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs in 68 games in 2021.

2022

On September 24, Robert was placed on the IL with a sprained left wrist which ended his season after getting hit by a pitch against the Seattle Mariners. In 2022, Robert appeared in 98 games with a batting average of .284 hitting 12 home runs and 56 RBIs.[28]

2023

On February 17, 2023, Robert announced that he would utilize the "Jr." suffix in his name from then on, which would also be reflected on his uniform.[29] During a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 29, Robert was benched after not hustling to first base after hitting a ground ball to the third-base side of the mound. Robert stated after the game that the lack of hustle was due his legs being tired and having a tight right hamstring. Robert also said that he did not tell anybody about his alleged pain, including the manager, so that he would be able to play in the game.[30]

International career

Before his defection, Robert represented the Cuban national team in international youth competition, including the 2015 18U Baseball World Cup, where he was named to the all-tournament team.[31] He also played for the national team in June 2016, as part of a goodwill tour of the Can-Am League of independent baseball.[32][33] Robert was also slated to represent Cuba in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, but was removed from consideration after his defection.[34]

Robert was named to the Cuban national team for 2023 World Baseball Classic. Along with White Sox teammate Yoán Moncada, he became the first active MLB player to be play for Cuba after having defected. Robert said the situation was "a little strange, because there are some [defectors] who sadly cannot play."[34] In the tournament, Robert batted .259/.286/.296, with seven hits and eight strikeouts in 27 at-bats.[35]

See also

References
  1. "Luis Robert #88". MLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  2. "Grandes Ligas observa al prospecto cubano Luis Robert Moirán".
  3. "El mejor pelotero que quedaba en Series Nacionales podría estar fuera de Cuba".
  4. Badler, Ben (9 January 2017). "Luis Robert Leaves Cuba, With Clock Ticking Before New Rules Begin". Baseball America.
  5. Calcaterra, Craig (10 January 2017). "Top prospect Luis Robert leaves Cuba". NBC Sports.
  6. Sanchez, Jesse. "Source: Cuban OF Robert cleared to sign May 20". MLB. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  7. Sanchez, Jesse. "5 favorites to sign Cuban OF phenom Robert". MLB. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  8. "OF Robert gets $26M bonus in White Sox deal". ESPN.com. May 27, 2017.
  9. Skrbina, Paul. "White Sox officially welcome aboard Cuban phenom Luis Robert". chicagotribune.com.
  10. "Luis Robert Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  11. Top prospect Robert wows with grand slam. MLB.com. Retrieved on March 11, 2018.
  12. Eskew, Alan. No. 3 White Sox prospect Robert out 10 weeks. MLB.com. Retrieved on March 11, 2018.
  13. Avallone, Michael; Tripodi, Chris (July 2, 2018). "Injury sidelines Robert up to eight weeks". MiLB. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  14. "Robert off to the races for Dash". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  15. Scot Gregor (April 30, 2019). "Chicago White Sox promote star prospect Luis Robert to Class AA Birmingham". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  16. Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  17. "2019 Register Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  18. "New-look White Sox, Robert agree to $50M deal". ESPN.com. January 2, 2020.
  19. Nightengale, Bob; Yomtov, Jesse (January 2, 2020). "White Sox agree to long-term contract with top prospect Luis Robert". usatoday.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  20. Scott Merkin (July 26, 2020). "White Sox phenom Robert rockets 1st HR". MLB.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  21. Harrigan, Thomas (September 2, 2020). "Robert, Cronenworth top rookies for August". MLB.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  22. "Luis Robert Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. "Luis Robert launches a 487 foot homer in game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against the A's". Matt Snyder. October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  24. Duber, Vinnie (November 3, 2020). "Sox rookie Luis Robert wins Gold Glove Award". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  25. "Robert (torn hip flexor) to miss months". MLB.com. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  26. Van Schouwen, Daryl (May 3, 2021). "White Sox CF Luis Robert out at least 12 weeks with Grade 3 hip flexor strain". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  27. "White Sox Select Ryan Burr".
  28. "White Sox Place Luis Robert On 10-Day Injured List". Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  29. Merkin, Scott (February 17, 2023). "Notes: Kopech's knee; Robert's name; Grandal". mlb.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  30. Rogers, Jesse (April 29, 2023). "White Sox bench OF Luis Robert for not running out grounder". ESPN.
  31. "Cuban Luis Robert top international prospect". Major League Baseball.
  32. "Cuba Sending Two Top Prospects To U.S. On Can-Am Trip - BaseballAmerica.com". 28 May 2016.
  33. "Who do scouts have their eyes on with the Cuban National team in town?". 29 June 2016.
  34. James Wagner (March 9, 2023). "Cuba's W.B.C. Team Is Notable for Who Is There, and Who Isn't". The New York Times. The New York Times.
  35. "Stats - Cuba". MLB.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.