White Sox Minor Keys: June 1, 2019
The DSL White Sox are underway, and the start of their season never fails to catch me off-guard, so I’ll have a preview in the coming days.
In the meantime, James Fegan wrote a comprehensive update on the state of Luis Robert’s game. With Robert further removed from his thumb as an excuse engine, he’s more open about how it affected his offense, which is fully on display in Birmingham (he had another three-hit night on Saturday).
The biggest project right now is trying to get Robert to stay within the strike zone, even if his hit tool is allowing him more success than expected when chasing.
Robert is so aggressive that Birmingham manager Omar Vizquel has put him in the leadoff spot not just because he wants the top prospect to get as many plate appearances as possible, but because he hopes it will force some selectivity into the 21-year-old center fielder — a push that’s hard to get from opposing pitching.
His bases-clearing, walk-off double on Tuesday night — lined on a full-count pitch — was an example of Robert adjusting his approach for contact based on the game situation. But removed from the company of hopelessly overmatched Dominican Summer League pitchers, walks have melted away from Robert’s game and figure to remain lightly featured. He’s simultaneously made mincemeat of the Southern League (.311/.360/.524), and left the impression he has more to gain from being at the most prospect-laden level.
Montgomery 12, Birmingham 7
- Luis Robert went 3-for-5 with a triple, and he’s avoided striking out in four of his last five games.
- Luis Gonzalez went 1-for-4 with a homer, walk and strikeout.
- Gavin Sheets, 1-for-5 with a K.
- Ti’Quan Forbes was 1-for-4 with a strikeout.
- Blake Rutherford had his second straight 2-for-4 game.
- Laz Rivera also went 2-for-4.
- Kodi Medeiros dropped to 0-8: 3.2 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 3 K, 2 HR
- Zack Burdi, I dunno: 0.1 IP, 0 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 0 K
More:
*Gonzalez’s homer was off a lefty:
Carolina 6, Winston-Salem 3 (Game 1, 7 innings)
- Nick Madrigal went 1-for-4.
- Steele Walker, 0-for-4.
- Jordan Stephens started a rehab stint: 2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 4 K, 1 HR
Winston-Salem 5, Carolina 4 (Game 2, 7 innings)
- Nick Madrigal went 1-for-3.
- Carlos Perez hit his first High-A homer while going 1-for-3.
- Steele Walker went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.
Kannapolis 3, Hickory 2
- Lenyn Sosa went 1-for-4 with a double and a strikeout.
- Luis Curbelo wore the collar and silver sombrero.
- Amado Nunez went 1-for-3 with a walk.
- Jhoandro Alfaro was 1-for-4 with a triple and a strikeout.
- Davis Martin: 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 K, 1 HBP
DSL White Sox 5, DSL Blue Jays 0
- Anthony Espinoza went 3-for-3 with a triple.
- Luis Pineda went 0-for-3.
- Alberto Bernal, 0-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout
- Jefferson Mendoza was 2-for-3 with a double.
Charlotte at Toledo PPD
Author
If you bring Robert up, who goes Sanchez or Garcia? Do you go by who give you better value on the market or keep the best player?
I think Ryan Cordell would be sent down in this scenario.
Robert isn’t ready. I don’t think it would even be a fair idea to bat him 9th (to spoon feed him) in a big league lineup yet. He needs more AB’s to get a better understanding of the strike zone. For comparison’s sake Jimenez had four times the amount of minor league plate appearances as Robert. If not for missing time last year with injuries he probably would be knocking on the door though.
Please. Luis Robert had over 700 PAs as a professional before he signed with the Sox.
The Cuban League isn’t what it used to be.
He was 15. That’s still like throwing a HS sophomore into the low minors.
And he sucked ass at 15. He didn’t break out and catch the attention of scouts until he was 18 and overwhelmed with his sheer physical talent. At this point the Cuban League is, from what I’ve heard, more comparable to A-Ball these days, and that might be generous.
I’m not trying to dismiss his professional experience to date, but I think it’s a bit of a stretch to say it qualifies him to jump two levels so quickly when he’s missed significant time and is now looking at the two most daunting leaps there are in terms of talent faced.
And dominating A-Ball at 18 is a feat, age for level being a thing. Being healthy and dominating AA now suggests he’s not going to be meaningfully challenged until he makes the leap to the majors. I’m sure Bellinger’s 20 games in AAA really made him a finished product.
Yes, let’s improve the team by calling up prospects and getting rid of actually useful players.
If Robert has shown he can handle AA velo, but selectivity is still a question, wouldn’t the more breaking ball laden AAA be the best spot for him?
I think that’s coming soon.
Let’s hope 17 year-old Wilber Sanchez (2-4 with a double) does well, as he has a fun name.
They also have an older Cuban I’ve never heard of before who doesn’t have much in the way of Serie Nacional stats on his BRef page.
It’d be nice for any J2 guys to do anything. It’s been an even less successful avenue of talent acquisition than the draft.
I wonder if Mercedes might be a late bloomer. Will be interesting to see him in AAA whenever Collins or Zavala are up to stay.
I don’t think the bat has ever been a question.