Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. sits in the dugout before a spring training baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, March 9, 2024, in Peoria, Ariz. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)
Lindsey Wasson/AP Photos
Luis Robert Jr. is expected to play games at the White Sox complex in Glendale, Ariz., at the end of the week as he inches closer to a return from a hip flexor strain that sidelined after seven games.
The All-Star center fielder’s next step after the backfield games will be a minor league rehab assignment, likely at Triple-A Charlotte.
But first, Robert must pass the running test to show he’s ready for game speed.
“We’re going to try to push him upwards to 90% here shortly and hopefully get him into some games in Arizona later in the week and see how he responds,” manager Pedro Grifol said before the Sox’ scheduled game against the Nationals Monday was rained out. “But the first test is going to be getting him going to the speed of the game a little bit before we put him in the game. So the next couple, three or four days is going to be critical for what happens at the end of the week coming up.”
Robert had been on track to be playing rehab games by now but he felt “a little grab” in the hip flexor in the first week of May, which set back his progress.
Grifol said Robert is pushing to get back and isn’t hesitant, even though he also suffered a hip flexor tear that caused him to miss three months in 2021.
“Not at all,” Grifol said. “We feel comfortable. But again, we have the right people over there. We have our strength-and-conditioning [staff], our sports-science people, everybody there monitoring all that stuff. We’re in a good spot.”
Grifol said third baseman Yoan Moncada, on the mend from an adductor strain, is not as far along but making progress toward a return.
Moncada, also at Arizona, spent last week batting right-handed and started from the left side Monday.
“I’ve seen videos of him catching some ground balls and doing some drills,” Grifol said. “He’s coming along. He’s a little further behind Robert, but he’s also coming along good.”
Mendick heads for Charlotte
Infielder Danny Mendick, whose IL stint for low back tightness opened a door for Bryan Ramos’ intriguing debut, was heading to Charlotte for a brief rehab assignment.
“I’m sure, come back up and just bounce around and play where they need me,” Mendick said. “That’s the best part about this game, that’s why you want to play at the highest level, to play and compete. You should never be handed anything. For me, going back out there and earning a spot is what I’ve always done.”
Mendick, like most everyone else, likes what Ramos is showing.
“You could tell in spring training that he was talented and had it all,” Mendick said. “For him to come up here and take advantage of opportunities, it’s really awesome. It’s good to see, because that’s what you want. That’s what you want to do and that’s what you want other guys to do.”
Going to WAR
Here are the Sox’ top 12 players according to Baseball Reference wins above replacement:
Erick Fedde, 1.7; Garrett Crochet, 0.9; Chris Flexen, 0.9; Jordan Leasure, 0.7; Korey Lee, 0.5; Michael Kopech, 0.5; Paul DeJong, 0.5; Jared Shuster, 0.5; Yoan Moncada, 0.4; Brad Keller, 0.4; John Brebbia, 0.3; Tommy Pham, 0.2; Gavin Sheets, 0.2; Zach Remillard 0.2. Andrew Benintendi has the lowest WAR at minus-1.4.