Another major piece of the puzzle will be rejoining the team this week.
White Sox manager Tony La Russa announced this afternoon that outfielder Luis Robert will return from his rehab assignment ahead of tomorrow’s series opener in Minneapolis. The 23-year-old is also expected to be in the starting lineup, and man centerfield.
During his rehab assignment with High-A Winston Salem and Triple-A Charlotte, Robert slashed .268/.388/.390 with two doubles, a home run, six RBI, and two stolen bases. He’s been moving relatively well and the stolen bases are a welcomed sight, pointing to his hip being healthy.
As you probably remember, Robert is coming off a Grade 3 right hip flexor strain, a complete tear that has left him sidelined since early May. The injury occurred when the centerfielder stumbled down the first base line while trying to beat out an infield single. At the time, it was clear that something wasn’t right as he started hopping towards the end of his sprint before falling to the ground in pain.
So far in his second season with the Sox, Robert is hitting .316/.359/.463 (30-95) with nine doubles, a triple, home run, and eight RBI in 25 games. His sort of presence in the lineup along with his glove in centerfield will be a nice addition to an outfield that currently includes Adam Engel, Leury Garcia, Brian Goodwin, Eloy Jimenez, Jake Lamb, and Andrew Vaughn.
With tomorrow’s move comes an interesting roster decision for the White Sox to make. Sending down Sheets is likely part of the equation, though they still need to make room on the 40-man roster. While names like Brian Goodwin and Jake Lamb come up as players who could be designated for assignment, the likely outcome is transferring Yasmani Grandal to the 60-day IL to clear the spot. This would buy the team a little time until the injured catcher begins his rehab assignment and eventually makes his return later this month or early next.
We’ll update this article as needed with any additional information. Be sure to also follow us on social media @SoxOn35th for more!
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