A Luis Robert vs. Dylan Cease matchup in a simulated game is about as good as it gets for surveyors of the White Sox rebuild and future, which was encapsulated in that particular battle at Guaranteed Rate Field Monday morning.
Cease, the gifted 24-year-old right-hander acquired with Eloy Jimenez in the Cubs trade for Jose Quintana, was left tipping his cap to Robert, the sculpted 22-year-old center fielder from Cuba who is a favorite on many AL Rookie of the Year betting cards.
There were two tips from Cease, actually, the first for simply how the 6-2, 210-pound Robert looks in a uniform. And the second for Robert’s line drive to center that bounced off the fence.
“I think the biggest thing is just how big he is,” Cease said.
Afterward, Robert and Cease were both featured on the Sox’ Zoom calls with media Monday. (This is how it’s done in a coronavirus world. Reporters have no clubhouse or on-field access as they normally would during spring training or the regular season.) And it was Cease who offered an apt description of the guy he’ll be counting on to run down fly balls in the outfield gaps this season.
“On Twitter someone tweeted an Under Armour mannequin [to capture Robert’s essence] and it’s actually pretty accurate,” Cease said. “That’s what he looks like.
“Besides today, I haven’t really gotten an opportunity to watch him a whole lot. He squared me up good on one of them today and he looks like he’s going to be a very talented player.”
With the fleet Robert in center, Eloy Jimenez in left, Yoan Moncada at third, Tim Anderson at shortstop and young pitchers Lucas Giolito, Cease and Michael Kopech — when and if he returns from his absence in camp due to a personal matter — the Sox have a young core worth being optimistic about. Cease and Robert have oodles of talent, but neither has proven anything yet, Cease pitching to a 5.79 ERA in 73 major league innings in 2019 and Robert not having played a game, although he tore up minor league pitching at three levels last season.
Both of them have plenty in their tool chests and high ceilings. Both know it, with Robert flashing more swagger on the subject of expectations than the more subdued Cease. Maybe it’s because Robert is being touted as the game’s next superstar.
“Yeah, I see or hear all of that stuff,” Robert said Monday through a translator. “I try to not pay attention to that. I know what I can do, and sometimes if you hear all that stuff you’re going to have more pressure on you and that might not be good for you. It’s good if people say that, but I just try to not pay too much attention to it.”
The narrative on Robert’s rookie year will be how he adjusts as it goes along, and with only 60 games, you wonder if the short season isn’t on his side. Robert talked openly about the adjustments he’ll have to make as pitchers zero in on how to pitch him, but he remains very confident heading into his first season.
“My expectations and goals are always the same,” he said. “Give 100 percent always on the field, help the team as much as I can and hopefully go to the postseason. And if I’m lucky enough, maybe win the Rookie of the Year. Those are my goals and if I stay healthy I feel confident I can do that.”
