The Carolina League could hold Luis Robert no longer. The White Sox’ Cuban center field prospect who destroyed pitching at advanced Class A Winston-Salem this month was promoted to AA Birmingham Tuesday, along with 2016 first-round draft pick right-hander Zack Burdi.
In 19 games, Robert slashed .453/.512/.920, hit eight homers, three triples and five doubles and drove in 24 runs for the Dash. He also stole eight bases in 10 attempts.
It was time. The only thing that slowed Robert was a sore thumb, causing him to miss five days last week. When he returned, Robert struck out eight times in nine plate appearances but regained his form in his last two games, getting four hits and falling a double shy of the cycle against the Potomac Nationals on Monday.
Robert, 21, is ranked the 37th-ranked prospect per MLB Pipeline. He looked ready for AA competition during spring training but had played only 45 games of A-ball in 2018, 32 of those at Winston-Salem where he batted .244 with no homers.
Burdi, a hard-throwing reliever who appeared in 29 games at AAA Charlotte in 2017 before having Tommy John surgery, appeared in three games at Class A Kannapolis, allowing three runs over three innings with six strikeouts and one walk.
Robert’s spot on the Winston-Salem roster will be filled by outfielder Steele Walker, a second-round draft choice in 2018 who was slashing .365/.427/.581 with no homers, three triples and 10 doubles in 20 games at Kannapolis.
Sox, Orioles rained out, straight doubleheader Wednesday
The White Sox and Baltimore Orioles scheduled game Tuesday night has been postponed due to inclement weather. The game will be made up Wednesday as part of a straight doubleheader beginning at 3:10 p.m. The originally scheduled contest will begin approximately 30 minutes following the conclusion of the opener.
Carlos Rodon is scheduled to start against David Hess in Game 1; Ivan Nova faces Andrew Cashner in the nightcap.
Fans with game tickets, parking coupons and Huntington Bank Stadium Club passes to the originally scheduled game Wednesday can attend both games with their ticket and parking pass.
Jones, 33, has a 3.48 ERA. The Sox picked up his $4.65 million option in the offseason even though he made only 44 relief appearances over the previous two seasons. He was used on consecutive days this year, including spring training, only one time, April 16-17.
“The frustrating part is I was having results,” Jones said. “I was getting guys out and doing my part for the team.”
The Sox’ 24 errors rank second to worst in majors.The account: Shortstop Tim Anderson 6, third baseman Yoan Moncada 4, second baseman Yolmer Sanchez 4, infielder Jose Rondon 3, catcher Welington Castillo 2, outfielder Engel 2, utility Leury Garcia 2, right-hander Dylan Covey 1.
They’re hot
Closer Alex Colome (2.13 ERA) is 6-for-6 in save opportunities.
*Jose Abreu is 17-for-35 with five doubles during an eight-game hitting streak that raised his average from .174 to .279.
*Tim Anderson is 24-for-50 (.489) with five homers at home.
*James McCann is 11-for-19 with one homer in his last four games.
*Yolmer Sanchez is 14-for-40 (.350) with two doubles and three RBI over his last 14 games after going 1-24 (.042) over his first seven games.
