Luis Robert hits first home run for White Sox
Rookie center fielder goes deep against Kenta Maeda
Rookie center fielder Luis Robert connected on his first career homer Sunday, a 419-foot shot to center against Twins right-hander Kenta Maeda at Guaranteed Rate Field.
Maeda had handcuffed the Sox through four scoreless innings, and the Twins were already in full control leading 10-0 when Robert went deep with Adam Engel on base.
A stadium worker retrieved the ball in the bleachers near center field.
Robert had four hits, including the homer and a double in his first 10 major league at-bats in this series. His first hit, a single on Opening Night, had an exit velocity of 115.8 mph, the highest on a first hit of any player since Statcast began. The exit velocity on the homer was 111.4.
Moncada sits this one out
The Sox took on the Twins without third baseman Yoan Moncada in the starting lineup.
Renteria had said Yoan Moncada would be getting days off sooner than later because of his short ramp up to the season, and Danny Mendick started in Moncada’s place at third base the rubber game of an important three-game series. Nicky Delmonico batted second in Moncada’s usual spot.
Moncada is dealing with arm soreness players normally work through in spring training, which can be attributed to inactivity before his late arrival to camp after opening on the injured list because of a positive (asymptomatic) coronavirus test. Moncada has a history of hamstring issues and Renteria doesn’t want to overload his legs too soon.
“Today was the day that seemed to be more prudent to give him a breath with his arm, body, everything else,” Renteria said. “He’s swinging the bat very well as everybody can see. He’s doing good but it was more now the idea of giving him from throwing at all today. Just give him a break.”
Renteria said his “expectation and hope” is that Moncada can play all three games in the series at Cleveland starting Monday.
“We want to make sure we give him the best chance to to get through the whole year and I don’t want to put him in a situation that sets him back,” Renteria said.
Road trip!
An eight-game road trip through Cleveland, Kansas City and Milwaukee is next. Renteria said he is trusting his players to be smart.
“I’m very fortunate in that the players themselves have taken it upon their own honor to monitor and hold each other accountable to protecting themselves when we get on the road,” he said.
“I won’t tell you what measures they are going to take for that but they have sat down and had serious conversations about everybody being mindful and respectful to keep the whole as a part of their thinking before and if they want to go out and do something that might put them in a compromised position. They are taking a very mature approach to it.”
Cease vs. Tribe
Monday starter Dylan Cease has faced the Indians once, last Sept. 9 at Cleveland, allowing four runs on four hits over 6 2/3 innings with career-high 11 strikeouts.