Luis Robert Jr.

Luis Robert Moirán Jr. (born August 3, 1997) is a Cuban-born professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). After defecting from Cuba in 2016, Robert signed with the White Sox in 2017. He made his MLB debut in 2020. That year, he won the Gold Glove Award. He was named an All-Star in 2023.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Robert and the second or maternal family name is Moirán.
Luis Robert Jr.
Robert with the White Sox in 2023
Chicago White Sox – No. 88
Outfielder
Born: (1997-08-03) August 3, 1997
Guantánamo, Cuba[1]
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 24, 2020, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Batting average.279
Home runs74
Runs batted in210
Teams
Career highlights and awards
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Cuba
15U Baseball World Championship
Silver medal – second place 2012 Chihuahua Team
18U Baseball World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2013 Taichung Team

Professional career

Cuban National Series

Robert played in the Cuban National Series for Ciego de Ávila from 2013 to 2015.[2][3]

Minor leagues

In November 2016, Robert defected from Cuba to pursue a Major League Baseball (MLB) career in the United States.[4][5] On April 20, 2017, he was declared a free agent, but he was not eligible to sign with any major league club until May 20.[6][7]

On May 27, 2017, Robert signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox that included a $26 million signing bonus.[8][9] After signing, he reported to the DSL White Sox and played 28 games there, posting a .310 batting average with three home runs, 14 runs batted in (RBIs), 22 walks, and 12 stolen bases.[10]

In 2018, Robert made his first start at outfield in a spring training game and hit a two-out, go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning, lifting the White Sox to a 14–12 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.[11] However, Robert was placed on the injured list for two months after the game, because he had sprained a ligament in his left thumb while sliding into second base.[12][13]

Robert began 2019 with the Winston-Salem Dash;[14] he was promoted to the Birmingham Barons on April 30.[15] Robert was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[16] On July 11, he made his debut with the Class AAA Charlotte Knights, where he hit two home runs in his first game with seven RBIs. Robert joined the 30/30 club by hitting 30 home runs and stealing 36 bases during the 2019 season.

In 2019, he scored 108 runs, the second most in the minor leagues, and he led the minors with 165 hits.[17]

Rookie season and Gold Glove Award (2020)

On January 2, 2020, Robert agreed to a six-year, $50 million contract with the Chicago White Sox before appearing in a major league game.[18] The contract includes team options for 2026 and 2027 which, if exercised, could bring the value of the contract to $88 million.[19] On July 24, he made his MLB debut. He hit his first MLB home run on July 26.[20]

In August 2020, Robert batted .298/.356/.660, including seven doubles, nine home runs, 20 RBIs, and three stolen bases over 26 games. He won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Month Award, his first monthly award in the major leagues.[21] Overall in 2020, he batted .233/.302/.436 over 202 at-bats.[22] Robert hit his first postseason home run in Game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Oakland Athletics off of Mike Fiers. His 487-foot home run was the longest postseason home run in White Sox history.[23] He also won the Gold Glove Award for center field, becoming the second White Sox player in history to win the award in his rookie season.[24] Robert also finished second in balloting for the AL Rookie of the Year Award, losing to Kyle Lewis of the Seattle Mariners.[25]

2021

Robert slashed .316/.359/.461 in 25 games through May 2, when he suffered a complete tear of his right hip flexor. The injury required a rehabilitation period of three to four months before he could resume baseball activities.[26][27] On May 27, he was placed on the 60-day injured list.[28] He was activated off the injured list on August 9.[29] Overall, Robert hit .338 with 13 home runs and 43 RBIs in 68 games in 2021.

2022

On July 14, 2022, in a game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field, Robert hit his first career grand slam off of starting pitcher Sonny Gray.[30] On September 24, Robert was placed on the IL with a sprained left wrist which ended his season after getting hit by a pitch against the Seattle Mariners. In 2022, Robert appeared in 98 games with a batting average of .284 hitting 12 home runs and 56 RBIs.[31]

2023

On February 17, 2023, Robert announced that he would utilize the "Jr." suffix in his name from then on, which would also be reflected on his uniform.[32] During a game against the Tampa Bay Rays on April 29, Robert was benched after not hustling to first base after hitting a ground ball to the third-base side of the mound. Robert stated after the game that the lack of hustle was due his legs being tired and having a tight right hamstring. Robert also said that he did not tell anybody about his alleged pain, including the manager, so that he would be able to play in the game.[33] Robert won the American League Player of the Week Award on June 26 after he batted .444 with a 1.111 slugging percentage in the previous six games.[34] Robert was named to his first ever All-Star Game.[35] Robert also announced he was going to be participating in the 2023 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby.[36] Robert advanced to the semi-finals where he eventually lost to Randy Arozarena. Robert announced he wouldn't be participating in the all-star game due to tightness in his right calf he suffered from the home run derby.[37]

International career

Before his defection, Robert represented the Cuban national team in international youth competition, including the 2015 18U Baseball World Cup, where he was named to the all-tournament team.[38] He also played for the national team in June 2016, as part of a goodwill tour of the Can-Am League of independent baseball.[39][40] Robert was also slated to represent Cuba in the 2017 World Baseball Classic, but was removed from consideration after his defection.[41]

Robert was named to the Cuban national team for 2023 World Baseball Classic. He, along with White Sox teammate Yoán Moncada, became the first active MLB players to play for Cuba after having defected. Robert said the situation was "a little strange, because there are some [defectors] who sadly cannot play."[41] In the tournament, Robert batted .259/.286/.296, with seven hits and eight strikeouts in 27 at-bats.[42]

See also

References
  1. "Luis Robert #88". MLB.com. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
  2. "Grandes Ligas observa al prospecto cubano Luis Robert Moirán" (in Spanish). Martinoticias.com. January 11, 2017. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  3. El mejor pelotero que quedaba en Series Nacionales podría estar fuera de Cuba
  4. Badler, Ben (January 9, 2017). "Luis Robert Leaves Cuba, With Clock Ticking Before New Rules Begin". Baseball America.
  5. Calcaterra, Craig (January 10, 2017). "Top prospect Luis Robert leaves Cuba". NBC Sports.
  6. Sanchez, Jesse. "Source: Cuban OF Robert cleared to sign May 20". MLB. Archived from the original on August 7, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  7. Sanchez, Jesse. "5 favorites to sign Cuban OF phenom Robert". MLB. Archived from the original on June 29, 2017. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  8. "OF Robert gets $26M bonus in White Sox deal". ESPN.com. May 27, 2017.
  9. Skrbina, Paul (May 27, 2017). "White Sox officially welcome aboard Cuban phenom Luis Robert". chicagotribune.com.
  10. "Luis Robert Stats, Highlights, Bio – MiLB.com Stats – The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  11. Top prospect Robert wows with grand slam. MLB.com. Retrieved on March 11, 2018.
  12. Eskew, Alan. No. 3 White Sox prospect Robert out 10 weeks. MLB.com. Retrieved on March 11, 2018.
  13. Avallone, Michael; Tripodi, Chris (July 2, 2018). "Injury sidelines Robert up to eight weeks". MiLB. Retrieved February 28, 2021.
  14. "Robert off to the races for Dash". MiLB.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  15. Scot Gregor (April 30, 2019). "Chicago White Sox promote star prospect Luis Robert to Class AA Birmingham". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  16. Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  17. "2019 Register Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 9, 2019.
  18. "New-look White Sox, Robert agree to $50M deal". ESPN.com. January 2, 2020.
  19. Nightengale, Bob; Yomtov, Jesse (January 2, 2020). "White Sox agree to long-term contract with top prospect Luis Robert". usatoday.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.
  20. Scott Merkin (July 26, 2020). "White Sox phenom Robert rockets 1st HR". MLB.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  21. Harrigan, Thomas (September 2, 2020). "Robert, Cronenworth top rookies for August". MLB.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  22. "Luis Robert Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  23. "Luis Robert launches a 487 foot homer in game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against the A's". Matt Snyder. October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  24. Duber, Vinnie (November 3, 2020). "Sox rookie Luis Robert wins Gold Glove Award". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
  25. "M's Lewis named top AL rookie in unanimous vote". ESPN.com. November 9, 2020.
  26. "Robert (torn hip flexor) to miss months". MLB.com. May 3, 2021. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  27. Van Schouwen, Daryl (May 3, 2021). "White Sox CF Luis Robert out at least 12 weeks with Grade 3 hip flexor strain". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  28. "White Sox Select Ryan Burr". May 27, 2021.
  29. "White Sox CF Robert, out since May, returns". ESPN.com. August 8, 2021.
  30. "Luis Robert blasts first career grand slam against Twins". nbcsports.com. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  31. "White Sox Place Luis Robert On 10-Day Injured List". September 24, 2022. Retrieved September 24, 2022.
  32. Merkin, Scott (February 17, 2023). "Notes: Kopech's knee; Robert's name; Grandal". mlb.com. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
  33. Rogers, Jesse (April 29, 2023). "White Sox bench OF Luis Robert for not running out grounder". ESPN.
  34. Murphy, Brian (June 26, 2023). "Robert, De La Cruz slug their way to Players of the Week". MLB.com. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  35. "White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. named to American League All-Star team". Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  36. "Robert ready to bring the house down in Derby debut". Retrieved July 5, 2023.
  37. "Luis Robert injury: White Sox outfielder pulls out of All-Star Game after hurting calf during Home Run Derby". Retrieved July 11, 2023.
  38. "Cuban Luis Robert top international prospect". Major League Baseball. Archived from the original on March 1, 2017. Retrieved February 25, 2017.
  39. "Cuba Sending Two Top Prospects To U.S. On Can-Am Trip - BaseballAmerica.com". May 28, 2016.
  40. "Who do scouts have their eyes on with the Cuban National team in town?". June 29, 2016.
  41. James Wagner (March 9, 2023). "Cuba's W.B.C. Team Is Notable for Who Is There, and Who Isn't". The New York Times. The New York Times.
  42. "Stats - Cuba". MLB.com. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
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