The White Sox Cuban pipeline is real. Dating back to Minnie Minoso the White Sox have a rich history of acquiring some of the top talents from Cuba. In recent years it has come in the form of Jose Abreu and Luis Robert. Abreu played a large part in recruiting Robert to Chicago. Now Robert is following in Abreu’s footsteps.
Oscar Colás is the most recent top-international prospect the White Sox have acquired and Robert played a role in making it happen. The two have known each other since Robert was eighteen years old. Colás even considers Robert to be like a “brother”
“We have an excellent relationship,” Colás said during last Tuesday’s press conference, through team translator Billy Russo. “We’ve known each other since we were kids, since 2015.”
The two childhood friends could soon be White Sox teammates. The pair played together on Cuba’s national team in the U-18 Baseball World Cup. Colas batted .368 with 6 RBIs and a .421 slugging percentage. Robert dominated hitting .406 with two home runs, three triples, and a team-high 11 RBIs. He also owned a .875 slugging percentage. Cuba went on to go 5-5 in the tournament finishing fifth.
However, looking at the numbers the pair posted it is easy to envision Robert being flanked by Colas in right field while wearing the black pinstripes for the White Sox.
If you don’t think the White Sox history with Cuban players played a factor in netting Colas, think again. Luis Robert told Vinnie Duber of NBC Sports Chicago about how comfortable he felt signing with the White Sox because of all the Cubans that have played there.
“As Cubans, it’s always good for us to have some sort of familiarity with the team we’re going to play for, I think that makes our decision easier. Just knowing that when you have offers from different teams, one of those is the White Sox and you know what they’ve done with Cuban players, you know that when you sign with that team, you’re going to have other Cubans that are going to take care of you, that can help you in the adjustment the process.
“That’s something that you really can’t measure, how valuable that is for us. But it’s something that plays a big role in our decision when we choose a team.”
This was something that Colás immediately identified as well. He was also able to relate to their blue-collar attitude and the culture they have been developing.
“I also knew this organization likes to play hard and win games,” the No. 5 prospect in this year’s international class explained. “That was what attracted me the most about this organization.”
He also added, “I talked a lot with Luis Robert, Yolbert Sanchez, and Cespedes. What they told me is this is a very good organization. They are very excited to have me, and they just want me to join them and play as hard as they are doing here.”
Robert’s recruitment talks paid off. Colas signed a deal worth $2.7 million. The White Sox have been trying to stockpile talent in order to remain competitive for years to come. In Colás, they are getting a strong outfield arm and middle-of-the-lineup pop. It’s uncertain when Colás will work his way up to the major leagues but he has a bright future ahead of him.
