Luis Robert Jr. homers, scores winning run in White Sox' victory against Red Sox
If there’s going to be another opportunity for general manager Chris Getz to bolster the White Sox’ farm system the way he did with the Garrett Crochet trade, Luis Robert Jr. is going to have to start partying like it’s 2023.
It was party time again Saturday, with Robert in the middle of the Sox’ most exciting win of the young season. He snapped a 46-game homerless streak with a game-tying shot in the sixth inning before walking and stealing second base in the ninth inning to set up Brooks Baldwin’s walk-off hit in the Sox’ 3-2 victory against the Red Sox.
It all made for a relieved Robert, whose otherwise slow start at the plate took him into Saturday with a .167/.250/.190 slash line. But he knows he’s not out of the woods yet.
“I know sometimes you’re good for a week, and sometimes you’re not that good for two weeks; it’s a long season,” Robert said. “In baseball, you have more bad moments than good moments.
“When you have a good moment, you have to hold it and try to keep it as long as you can.”
That’s the task now for Robert, whose slow start comes on the heels of a disappointing 2024 that saw him hit .224/.278/.379. The numbers he has put up since the beginning of last season are a far cry from what he did in 2023: 38 home runs, an All-Star appearance and a Silver Slugger Award.
A reemergence of the 2023 version of Robert could net the Sox a package similar to the four-prospect haul Getz landed in the Crochet deal. More and more, though, that version of Robert is a fading memory.
But even before this game, there were positives. Robert is walking, drawing six in his first 13 games this season, putting him on pace for 74. That speaks to some level of improved plate discipline for a hitter who has chased pitches throughout his career.
“His walk rate is up; he’s not chasing like he has in the past when he’s gone through struggles,” Getz said Friday. “You’ve got to be mindful that you’ve got to stick to the plan. And he’s been very intentional with how he’s approaching his at-bats right now.
“We still feel like he’s in a very good spot.”
Robert also came into Saturday tied for the American League lead with five stolen bases. He added one more, the critical swipe in the ninth, and he’s on pace for 74 of those, too.
“I’m happy that even though I haven’t been able to produce as I know I can with my offense at the plate, I’ve been able to help the team in different areas, like with speed or my defense,” Robert said. “I’m just happy to be able to take advantage of all the abilities that God gave me.”
It has long been obvious that Robert has a lot of those. Frank Thomas and Tony La Russa once touted him as a “six-tool player.” This is the guy who was supposed to be the star driving the contender at the end of the previous rebuild, not the last man standing as the Sox launched a new one.
The state of the team has set up Robert as perhaps the last big-time trade chip Getz has at his disposal to further boost the farm system. But Robert needs to produce a lot more like he did in 2023 if that scenario is going to materialize for Getz by the trade deadline.
This performance was a start. Seeing the ball go over the fence for the first time since Aug. 16 undoubtedly will be helpful.
It might be tough for a firing-on-all-cylinders Robert to help vault these Sox into contender status in 2025. But he could help Getz better position them for the future.