Luis Robert completed a steal of second base in the Sox intrasquad at Guaranteed Rate Field with an awkward slide that could have resulted in a lower body injury. Sox coaches have worked with Robert to slide feet first to avoid hand injuries, and as third base coach Nick Capra said, the prized center fielder was indecisive about which way to go “instead of knowing he needs to slide on his rear end, and he got caught in the middle.”
Rest assured, the sight of Robert getting twisted around second base caused some winces and grimaces among Sox staffers. Robert’s talent and performance have been the talk of summer camp thus far.
Robert has hurt his thumb three times in the minor leagues and spring training sliding head first, and wears a mitt to protect his hand in case he does go head first. That’s his first instinct but it’s not how he’s being coached.
“He’s going to be all right,” Capra said. “It has been an issue in the past. We are going to clean it up and get him to where he needs to be.”
Robert lined a single and made a running catch going back to the wall in the three and a half inning scrimmage Tuesday.
Burdi, Crochet, Adolfo among 16 on taxi squad
The initial 16-player taxi squad roster that will work out at Boomers Stadium in suburban Schaumburg was announced. Workouts begin Wednesday. The list:
Right-handers — Burdi, Ryan Burr, Matt Foster, Brady Lail, Alex McRae, Bryan Mitchell and Jonathan Stiever.
Left-handers — Crochet, Bernardo Flores Jr., Jacob Lindgren, Adalberto Mejía and Bennett Sousa;
Catchers — Seby Zavala;
Outfielders — Adolfo, Luis González and Blake Rutherford.
The Sox will have 59 players working out as part of summer camp including 43 at Guaranteed Rate Field and 16 in Schaumburg.
While not ruling out a major league appearance in 2020 for Crochet, a fireballer out of Tennessee, director of player development Chriz Getz said having Crochet on board is “more just getting comfortable with the organization.”
“I don’t think we need to necessarily focus on a major league radar for Garrett.”
Grandal doesn’t mask concerns
Many umpires in intrasquads aren’t wearing masks — most players aren’t, either, but for a catcher like Yasmani Grandal with an ump over his shoulder, there is concern.
“I’d be lying to you if I said I wasn’t worried about it,” Grandal said Tuesday. “This is something you have to take very serious. Because it can spread as fast as anything. But in my case it’s not only for my health and my teammates but for the health of my family. My wife is pregnant so I don’t want nothing to happen to her and I don’t want nothing to happen to my kids.”
Eleven umpires opted out of the 2020 season, it was reported Tuesday.
This and that
Manager Rick Renteria is expected back Wednesday after missing five days to attend a family funeral. Renteria’s duties had been filled by bench coach Joe McEwing, who flew to Philadelphia because a family medical matter, leaving Capra in charge.
*Wednesday’s scrimmage was changed from a scheduled night event to 1:10 p.m. because of expected rain.
*Getz said 2016 first round third baseman Jake Burger, whose career has been stymied by two Achilles injuries, is going to play in a league in Missouri. The league has a mix of “pro and college players,” Getz said.
