The White Sox and their fans don’t need more reasons to be excited about Luis Robert, but he gave them another Saturday.
Playing for Class AAA Charlotte, Robert hit his 30th home run to become the first minor leaguer to reach 30 homers and 30 stolen bases in a season since Joc Pederson reached the mark in 2014. No Sox prospect had done it since at least 1988, and joining the 30/30 club is more proof of Robert’s immense skillset.
“He’s scratching the surface,” Rick Renteria said.
Whether Robert makes a September cameo or comes up early next year, plenty will be expected when he makes it to Chicago. But it also wouldn’t be shocking if Robert struggles when he first comes to the majors. Renteria alluded to how Mike Trout scuffled over 40 games in 2011 before returning in 2012 to become a superstar.
“(Robert) is an individual who has certainly started to put together and showing signs that everybody should be really happy that the organization did a great job of identifying and signing this young man and putting him in our system,” Renteria said.
Mr. 1,000
Jose Abreu reached 1,000 career hits with his first-inning single Saturday night. It was just his 870th career game, and reaching the 1,000-hit mark was a testament to Abreu’s consistency and holding himself to a standard since joining the Sox.
“It’s a tribute to him,” Renteria said. “That’s a nice feat. And for him to do it as a (Sox player), I think he’s really, really happy about doing that.”
Abreu’s season has been tricky to evaluate.
His .316 on-base percentage (entering Sunday) would be the lowest of his career. Yet he’s driven in 98 runs and is on pace for a career-high in RBIs. Renteria said walks are a byproduct of not chasing pitches, but Abreu probably wouldn’t have knocked in so many runs without occasionally expanding his zone.
“But when you drive those guys in, I think everybody’s happy when you have somebody that goes out there that you can count on putting the bat on the ball in certain situations, particularly scoring a point,” Renteria said. “And he’s done that pretty consistently for us. He’s doing it again this season.”
Giolito on Cease
Lucas Giolito was impressed by how Dylan Cease recovered from a three-run first inning and then allowed nothing more over the next five innings Friday night.
“Giving up three runs in the first inning then bouncing back and dominating from there, showing signs of growth and that’s how it is,” Giolito said. “That’s part of the process, so it’s great.”
Giolito said that last year, when things went bad he would let everything explode. Cease has been different, with Giolito saying “it looks like nothing’s really fazing him out there, which is a really cool trait to see from a young guy that just came up.”
“I think that, as a young player like him coming up, this is all about getting experience, exposure, learning, growing. His stuff is super-elite,” Giolito said. “He’s going to be a really really good pitcher.”
Briefly
Jace Fry was reinstated from the paternity list. He takes the spot of Jose Ruiz, who was optioned to Class AAA Charlotte on Saturday.
