After managing just six runs over their previous four games, the White Sox offense broke out in a big way Tuesday night with an 8–1 win over the Tigers. Notably absent from the starting lineup was Luis Robert Jr., who was held out as part of the team’s strategy to give him a short break in hopes of helping the slumping center fielder regain his form.
In his last seven games, Robert has gone 1 for 20 at the plate with ten strikeouts and three walks. Adding insult to injury, the White Sox had lost seven of their last eight games before Robert was replaced with Michael A Taylor in center field on Tuesday.
Taylor responded by going 1 for 2 with four RBIs, a pair of walks, and a three-run homer.
Robert’s recent struggles add to a broader season-long slump where Robert is hitting a career low .177 with five homers and 20 RBIs through 55 games.
Robert has been working with White Sox hitting director Ryan Fuller on improving his timing at the plate by refining his leg kick to help him get into a better rhythm, avoid overstepping, and maximize his natural power.
White Sox manager Will Venable told reporters that the plan is to leave Robert out of the starting lineup as well.
“He’ll be available, but not in the starting lineup, just to give an opportunity to really dial in some of these adjustments without just feeling the pressure of having to go out there and perform,” Venable said ahead of Tuesday’s game. “He’s in a good spot physically. And just want to give him a couple of days here to lock in some of those adjustments.”
Robert has still found ways to contribute. He entered Tuesday with a major league-leading 21 stolen bases and has provided Gold Glove caliber defense in center field.
Venable admitted that Robert has been nursing a sore knee but does not believe it has impacted him at the plate.
“There’s some soreness, but I think that it’s not more than any soreness that all these guys feel during the course of the summer and playing hard out there every day,” Venable said.
Both Venable and Fuller have said Robert has been receptive to changes to his swing, with Venable adding that the 2023 All-Star has taken the temporary benching in stride.
“He’s put in a ton of work and working extremely hard all throughout the day to try and get this thing right,” Venable said. “He agreed that it would be a good idea just to press pause on the games, just for a couple of games here.”
Damn spellcheck, that was meant to be Abreu
Citizen34, I couldn’t have said it any better myself. Other than for Aubrey, the Cuban pipeline has been a failure. Colas, Cespedes and now Robert. I’m sure I’m forgetting others. But Jerry knows he can get Cuban players on the cheap and fill out a lineup. Both the drafting and development of players in this organization for the last decade plus has been abysmal at best. I listened to a YT video from an Orlando news station yesterday that was saying the Sox are “in play” for a relocation there. I’m at the point where I’m not sure I even… Read more »
Just add his name to the list of cuban players the white sox have stockpiled over the years, only to watch NONE of them become a good MLB player. Cheap-ass Jerry must get some free cuban cigars or something. Here’s a game: Name me one player on the White Sox in the last 15-20 years that they drafted and developed in the minor league system that became a good player? Cheap-ass Jerry has “saved’ money over the last 25 years by not paying for good minor-league coaches or developemental staff or scouts. He is the biggest joke of an owner,… Read more »
My thought has been Robert wanting out of Chicago, was the reason for his poor play…. Now, I am not so sure. He has completely forgotten how his hit. Is he hurt again and Sox are being stupid by playing him???? Because they are so desperate to trade him???