Chicago White Sox: 3 players that could fill in for Luis Robert
The baseball gods are cruel sometimes. Chicago White Sox fans were calling for Andrew Vaughn to get more playing time in left field. It looks like they are going to get their wish but in a twist of fate, it will come at the expense of Luis Robert.
The Chicago White Sox are thankful that the injury wasn’t as bad as it initially looked.
Robert strained his right hip flexor while legging out an infield single but went tumbling to the ground after reaching first base. He was down on the ground wincing in pain for a long time and when he was finally helped off of the field he was unable to put any weight on his right leg.
Just like that, three of the White Sox top four outfielders have been lost to injury. Eloy Jimenez is slated to miss most of the season with a torn pectoral. Meanwhile, Adam Engel, who would assume responsibilities in center field, has yet to play a game this season due to a hamstring strain suffered during Spring Training.
He was expected to be back in the first two weeks and was not. Now the question is when will he return? The timetable has been constantly pushed back so he may not be able to help the White Sox stabilize the outfield in time. Tony La Russa added to the confusion when he said that there is currently no date for his return from the injured list.
The White Sox desperately needs his services. He put together a solid 2020 season at the plate and carried that confidence over to this season. He is also s Gold Glove-caliber center fielder. With him out of the equation, there will be added pressure on Andrew Vaughn. Vaughn will be expected to pick up some of the offensive slack created by Robert’s absence. Out of all the White Sox available outfielders, he has the most power by far. It has also looked like he is starting to figure it out at the plate. The rookie has a .391 average in his last seven games and a .478 slugging percentage.
Unfortunately for the White Sox Vaughn is unable to play center field. He is already making an adjustment playing in left field for the first time. It will be up to three other players on the White Sox roster to step up in centerfield in Robert’s absence.
Leury Garcia
Leury Garcia is the longest-tenured player in the Chicago White Sox organization.
Leury Garcia has spent time as the White Sox center fielder before so he would be the front runner to replace Luis Robert The longest-tenured member of the White Sox got off to a painfully slow start this season. Tony La Russa kept inserting him into the lineup despite the fact that hits were few and far between. It appears that Tony La Russa’s faith in him is starting to pay off because he is heating up.
In his last seven games, he is hitting .273 with six hits and eight RBIs. One of those RBIs included a clutch single to put the White Sox ahead 3-1 in the first game of a doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians. In Game-2 of that doubleheader, he went 2-for-4 with 3 RBI.
“I followed the team enough to know he’s an igniter,” White Sox manager Tony La Russa said after his impressive day at the plate. “He’s one of the igniters. Very conscientious, a great teammate, winning player. And if he gets hot, it gets deeper.”
The White Sox are hoping that is the case because Garcia suddenly has added pressure with Robert’s absence from the lineup. Garcia is known for his versatility on defense but the outfield is where he is at his best. With his speed, he is more than capable of filling in for Robert in centerfield. In 2019 he played 80 games in center field and led the majors with 14 outfield assist.
Garcia has traditionally been a solid hitter as well. He has hit at least .270 or higher the previous four seasons. However, as evidence by his current.200 batting average, he is no Luis Robert. If the White Sox want to make up for the lost production all eyes will be on Garcia to step up.
Billy Hamilton
Billy Hamilton’s speed might be able to help the Chicago White Sox while Robert is out.
Outside of Garcia, Billy Hamilton is the most capable defensive outfielder the White Sox have left. Tony La Russa has loved to deploy Hamilton late in games as a defensive substitute and a pinch-runner late in games. He showed off his arm with an impressive assist in a game against the Texas Rangers on April 24th.
The throw saved a run late in the game and preserved the White Sox lead at the time. Hamilton is blazing fast as evident by his 307 career stolen bases. He has also already appeared in two games at centerfield this season. The range will not be a problem for him but making up for Luis Robert’s presence in the lineup might be.
Hamilton owns a career .241 batting average and is only hitting .176 on the season. In his last 25 plate appearances, he only has four hits. He was also on the 10-day injured list, earlier in the season. Hamilton sustained a strained left hamstring while running the bases during the fifth inning of Chicago’s 8-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners on April 7. He was placed on the injured list the following day.
Seeing that Hamilton is already not known for his prowess at the plate it is unfair to ask him to shoulder the offensive load. However, he needs to step up at the plate in Robert’s absence otherwise the White Sox could be in trouble if they opt to go with him as their everyday replacement.
Luis González
Luis Gonzalez is going to get a big opportunity to stay with the Chicago White Sox.
A fellow Luis could also be in line for a promotion and fill in for the injured Luis. Luis González is expected to get called up from the alternate training site in Schaumburg and throw his hat in the mix of names of possible center fielders.
González was ranked as the number nine prospect in the White Sox organization by Baseball America. He appeared in three games for the White Sox last season. He entered one game as a defensive replacement in center field and one as a defensive replacement in left field. He also had one opportunity as a pinch hitter but went 0-1. However, he was hit by a pitch in his plate appearance against Detroit on 8/18 and came around to score a run.
The White Sox like González’s speed and offensive potential. They have good reasons why. In 2019 he led Class AA Birmingham in runs (63) and triples (four). He also ranked second in hits (117), home runs (nine), and RBIs (59). If that isn’t enough he also tied for second in doubles (18) and stolen bases (17).
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He did have a poor showing in Spring Training with only a .154 batting average. He will now get another opportunity at the big leagues and this is his chance to make the most of it. Just look at what Yermin Mercedes did with his first real opportunity. If Gonzalez gets a chance to start in center field he needs to take it and run with it. It is very likely we will see a lot of him as a pinch-runner and as a defensive sub later in games.