Globe iconLogin iconRecap iconSearch iconTickets icon

Robert celebrates his birthday in style

No. 3 overall prospect reaches base three times, scores twice
Luis Robert (right) has been a fixture atop the White Sox lineup in 2020, hitting .350 with three stolen bases and eight runs. (Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
@MavalloneMiLB
August 3, 2020

A seemingly never-ending flow of young talent continues to infiltrate the White Sox lineup. Luis Robert is among them, although his early results seem more reminiscent of a perennial All-Star. Chicago’s top prospect celebrated turning 23 by reaching base three times, scoring twice and stealing two bases in Monday night's

A seemingly never-ending flow of young talent continues to infiltrate the White Sox lineup. Luis Robert is among them, although his early results seem more reminiscent of a perennial All-Star.

Chicago’s top prospect celebrated turning 23 by reaching base three times, scoring twice and stealing two bases in Monday night's 6-4 win over Milwaukee. Robert singled on the first pitch of the game off Brewers starter Brett Anderson, giving the birthday boy hits in nine of his 10 games to begin the season.

After his leadoff knock, MLB.com’s No. 3 overall prospect came around to score on an RBI groundout by Jose Abreu. Robert grounded back to the left-hander in the second inning, then walked and stole second in his next two plate appearances. He scored in the seventh on Abreu’s game-tying two-run homer to center field off Corbin Burnes. Robert worked the count full in his final at-bat in the eighth, but struck out with two runners on base.

Patience hasn't been one of Robert’s calling cards. The outfielder walked 28 times in more than 500 Minor League plate appearances in 2019. Discounting the 22 free passes he earned in 28 games during his first year as a professional in the Rookie-level Dominican Summer League in 2017, Robert posted a 4.4 percent walk rate in the Minors.

Through 10 Major League games, the Dominican Republic native has walked five times in 49 plate appearances while batting .350/.409/.575 with five extra-base hits, eight runs and six RBIs.

Robert terrorized Minor League pitchers last year, posting a .328/.376/.624 slash line with 32 homers and 36 stolen bases across three levels.

One night after collecting his first big league hit during a 4-for-5 performance, fourth-ranked White Sox prospect Nick Madrigal went hitless in three at-bats with a walk.

No. 28 Matt Foster walked one and struck out three across two hitless frames out of the bullpen in his second big league appearance.

In other action:

Cubs 2, Royals 0

Top Chicago prospect Nico Hoerner led off the fifth with a four-pitch walk against lefty Danny Duffy (0-2) and came around to score the team's first run on a sacrifice fly to right by Javier Baez. The 23-year-old is batting .269 with a double, six runs and five RBIs through nine games. Box score

Twins 5, Pirates 4

Lewis Thorpe took the mound for his first start of the season and third appearance overall. Minnesota's 10th-ranked prospect allowed three runs on six hits and four walks while fanning three. They were the first runs the southpaw has surrendered this season. No. 25 Jorge Alcala allowed an unearned run on two hits while whiffing a pair over two innings in his season debut. Box score

Padres 5, Dodgers 4

Jake Cronenworth snapped a sixth-inning tie with an RBI single and scored later in the frame to lead the way for San Diego. The No. 17 Padres prospect lined a 1-2 pitch to left off Brusdar Graterol (0-2) that brought home Manny Machado for a 4-3 lead. The fifth-ranked Dodgers prospect only retired two batters in the sixth and was charged with two runs on two hits with one strikeout. Box score

A’s 11, Mariners 1

Oakland’s second-ranked prospect Sean Murphy broke out of a three-game hitless skid with a base knock in the fifth. Baseball’s No. 33 overall prospect added a pair of walks and scored twice. Seattle’s 10th-ranked prospect Kyle Lewis did not a record a hit for the first time this season -- snapping his 10-game streak -- and fourth-ranked Evan White went 0-for-4. Lewis finished 0-for-4 but is batting .386 this year. Southpaw Justus Sheffield cruised through four scoreless frames before running into trouble in the fifth. The 13th-ranked Mariners prospect was tagged for the loss after being charged with four runs on four hits and a pair of walks while punching out five over 4 2/3 innings. Box score

Michael Avallone is a writer for MiLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @MavalloneMiLB.