On Friday, the White Sox announced that Luis Robert is going on the IL with lightheadedness and blurred vision.
Robert has not looked like himself in the outfield this past month. He dropped a ball on July 8th against the Detroit Tigers, then misplayed a ball on July 15th in Minnesota. Robert took an awkward angle on a line drive off the bat of Carlos Correa. He pulled up and failed to get in front of a one-hopper off the grass, allowing the ball to roll past him.
To error is human. But Robert’s whiff during the second inning of the July 15th tilt against Minnesota was another uncharacteristic moment from the former Gold Glove winner that left many scratching their heads.
Soon after, he was lifted from the game with the White Sox, citing “lightheadedness” as the reason. When you rewatch the play, the diagnosis makes sense. Robert clearly did not look right.
James Fegan of the Atletic reported that the White Sox hoped rest during the All-Star break would reduce the symptoms. He has not engaged in any baseball activity since leaving the game on Friday, but the symptoms have not been fully resolved. He is eligible to return to the lineup next Friday.
Luis Robert is going on the IL with lightheadedness and blurred vision. Eligible to return next Friday. Symptoms have not fully resolved. Has not done any baseball activities since leaving the game last Friday.
— James Fegan (@JRFegan) July 22, 2022
Fegan also said the White Sox did not announce a root cause for these symptoms. Rick Hahn said it would be speculative to draw any connection between Roberts’s symptoms and him having COVID in May. His placement on the IL was prompted by the fact that he’s been inactive too long to be ready before ten days.
“All I can tell you is I’m not sitting on any information at this time or keeping from you anything,” Hahn told reporters. “He’s seeing the right people, getting the right test done.”
Tony La Russa wasn’t able to provide much more information either.
“On hold until he gets a checkup tomorrow,” La Russa said. “We’ll see. Fingers crossed, eyes crossed, legs crossed.”
This is a big blow for the White Sox as they try and make a second-half push towards the playoffs. Robert was riding a hot stretch before leaving the game last Friday. He was riding a streak of three consecutive three-hit games.
Robert is slashing .301/.334/..461 in 74 games this season. He has been one of the White Sox’s most productive run producers, with 54 RBIs and 48 runs scored. Robert’s 12 home runs, 54 RBIs, and 11 stolen bases lead the White Sox.
The fact that a seemingly healthy 24-year-old is experiencing lightheadedness for an extended period is cause for concern. Not knowing the root cause of it does not help matters. Adam Engel will likely get the bulk of the playing time in center field. Yasmani Grandal was activated off the IL, so nobody else needed to be called up in a corresponding move.
This is not good for Luis Robert. He needs to get this diagnosed and fixed so he can continue with baseball or simply his life. The Sox are a fundamentally flawed team from the top down. I read predictions of a great post break surge but I wrote the Sox were going to continue to meander in “No man’s land.” The absurdity of the Sox and they are still expecting several starting pitchers to get it going. Face it, this team went sour. Lance Lynn is a 7.50 ERA now. They will get sept by the Indians, and then the… Read more »