Luis Robert hit safely in 13 of his first 16 games but was 3-for-19 with a double in his last five games going into the White Sox’ series against the Tigers in Detroit.
It was as good a day as any for a day off Monday, although it caught Robert by surprise. A little slump comes with the territory, he said.
“Pitchers have been attacking me the same way since the season started,” Robert said through a translator Monday Monday. “I didn’t have good results the last few days but I just have to keep working. It’s nothing different they have done against me.”
A high strikeout rate notwithstanding — the prized rookie center fielder had fanned 23 times in 69 plate appearances, Robert has been so confident in his ability that this recent stretch caught him by surprise. He was batting .302/.362/.460 with two homers.
“It’s just baseball, this is just the way it is,” Robert said. “Sometimes you are having good times and success and sometimes you are not getting those good outcomes that you were having before. For me, it’s just trying to be consistent.”
Robert’s first 16 games in the majors have been captivating. He has played center field with expansive range and looked comfortable, has showcased speed on the bases and is hitting for power and average.
He seems oblivious to the local and national attention coming his way. There is no added pressure because of, that’s for sure.
“I honestly don’t feel that way,” he said. “I just think that I’m the new guy. I know that everybody is trying to talk about me about Rookie of the Year and all that stuff. I just feel like another guy from this team. I don’t feel that pressure or that tension.”
Renteria wanted Robert to take a game to observed from the dugout and converse with Sox hitting coaches.
“An opportunity for him to kind of take a step back,” Renteria said. “I’ll probably do the same thing in a couple days with another player as well, just to kind of give them a physical break. Right now it’s Luis. I know he’s not worried, he’s a confident young man.”
