White Sox general manager Rick Hahn expects center fielder Luis Robert to be challenged by pitchers the same way Eloy Jimenez was during his rookie year in 2019.
“But boy, he certainly has shown very little signs of having issues with the acclimation process so far,” Hahn said.
In his first major league at-bat on Opening Night Friday, Robert smoked a 115.8 mph line drive (per Baseball Savant) to left for a single off a Jose Berrios slider.
“I got the baseball,” Robert said through translator Billy Russo. “I’m going to put it in a special place that I have in my house for all my memorabilia.”
Robert lined out to right field his second time up, struck out on a high fastball against Tyler Clippard and doubled to right center field on an 0-2 pitch against Cody Stashak with a 103 mph line drive that hit the base of the wall.
Hahn, who signed Robert to a $50 million deal before Robert played a major league game, has heard all the hype surrounding Robert.
“And look, the comps are what they are,” Hahn said. “They’re exciting, they’re fun to do, but in the end we just want him to be Luis Robert. We think he’s got a chance to be pretty special.”
Delmonico: All the way back
Released by the White Sox last June and then signed as a non-roster invitee to spring training, Nicky Delmonico’s comeback from shoulder surgery was completed with a spot in the Opening Day lineup.
Nomar Mazara going on the injured list this week opened the door for Delmonico, who saw his first major league action in right and went 0-for-4 at the plate.
“It’s just nice waking up every morning pain free,” said Delmonico. “I can’t tell you what that does to you mentally and physically.”
A .227/343/.436 career hitter, Delmonico hasn’t been 100 percent physically since his rookie year in 2017 when he batted .262/.373/.482 with nine homers in 43 games.
This was his first Opening Day start, which no one would have predicted in spring training, when he was a long shot to make the team going in.
“I felt like I did everything I can to be in this position right now,” he said. “So, to go through what I have been through and to get back and have my name in the lineup tonight, it meant a lot.”
Taking a knee
Tim Anderson, Jose Abreu, Edwin Encarnacion, Eloy Jimenez and Robert and coaches Joe McEwing and Daryl Boston knelt during the National Anthem in support of the “Black Lives Matter” movement before the game. Manager Rick Renteria and Yoan Moncada stood with a hand on the shoulders of Anderson, the Sox’ only African American player.
Twins manager Rocco Baldelli, two coaches and seven Twins players also knelt.
Before the anthem and after players from both teams were introduced, teams stood beside each other holding a long black cloth in a league wide stance supporting racial injustice, violence and inequality. Renteria knelt for that.
Bittersweet opener
Jimmy Lambert was dressed for his first major league game after an impressive spring and summer camp.
“I’ve come back and been able to get the ball over the plate with all my [four] pitches,” Lamber said. “That’s a big thing for me.’’
Lambert’s younger brother Peter pitches for the Rockies.
Lambert was informed he made the team Wednesday.
“It was fun to call my dad, my parents, my brothers,” Lambert said. “My younger brother made his debut at Wrigley last year. But it’s kind of bittersweet, I think I can tell you, because everybody kind of wants to be a part of it. But obviously right now with the circumstances we’re under [no spectators allowed], that’s not possible.”
Moncada’s back
Yoan Moncada appears to have shaken off whatever rust there was after a late start to summer camp due to a positive coronavirus test. Moncada doubled and homered against Berrios and added a single his last time up. Manager Rick Renteria said Moncada will be ready to play Saturday afternoon after a quick turnaround.
Remebering Farmio
Renteria got emotional wrapping up his Zoom session with media paying tribute to long time broadcaster Ed Farmer, who died April 1.
“Just remember Eddie Farmer,” Renteria said. “We love him.”
