[ad_1]
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Chicago White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. had a bat in his hand as he chatted with teammates Oscar Colás and Eloy Jiménez near the batting cages at Camelback Farm on Monday morning.
Robert put on a show in the backfield later in the day, hitting the ball hard all over the field.
The 26-year-old is locked in for his first full-team practice of the spring as he looks to build on last season.
What kind of 2023 was it like for Robert, who broke career highs in many offensive categories? Win All-Star And Silver Slugger Award honour.
“The biggest takeaway was that I was able to stay healthy and play as many games as I did,” Robert said Monday through a translator. “I played a lot of games (a career-best 145 games) and it was something I wanted to do.”
Robert is sure there is another level.
“I can improve on the little things I haven’t been able to do as well as I would like,” he said. “I think I can improve on those little things and if I do that it will be a much better season.”
Robert slashed .264/.315/.542 with 36 doubles, 38 home runs, 80 RBIs, 90 runs batted in, 20 stolen bases and a .857 OPS. Doubles, home runs, RBIs, runs batted in and stolen base totals are career bests.
He ranked second in the American League in extra-base hits (75), third in home runs and slugging percentage, fifth in OPS (.857), seventh in total bases (296) and tied for ninth in OPS+ (103.1). doubles.
Manager Pedro Grifol recognized the work Robert put in last spring and that it paid off.
“I’ve had a few players throughout my career that I wouldn’t dream of targeting just because you don’t know what their limits are,” Grifol said. “I’m always hesitant to say, ‘OK, that’s the goal,’ and limit it to that when it has so much more. And he is one of them.
“He scored 38 goals last year. He had a great year. The most important part is that he wants to be great. That puts him in a position to have great offseasons. You see him running around the bases today, it’s pretty exciting. And this is one of those guys that I had to slow down a little bit in the spring last year and just say take it easy, but now that I know him, it’s his DNA and he likes to act that way and that’s what gets him ready for the season.”
Robert became the first player in franchise history to record 35+ doubles, 35+ home runs, 80+ RBIs, 90+ runs scored, and 20+ stolen bases in a single season.
MLB Network recently ranked him The number 27 player of the big leagues on the network’s “Top 100 actors right now” list.
Robert smiled when asked about all the positive recognition.
“That’s been one of my goals since I came here and signed with this organization; to be the best player I can be,” he said. “Unfortunately, the injuries I had last season and all that stuff stopped me from being that kind of player. Last year was a step forward. That’s what I work for every day, to be the best player I can be.”
Robert misses final six games of 2023 suffered a mild left knee MCL sprain September 24 in Boston. After a month of recovery, he returned to 2024 preparation activities.
Robert has been in the news after this offseason. changed its representation To Boras Corp.
“You always think about your future,” Robert said. “But I still have four more years in this organization and I’m not thinking beyond that. I like to think about today because that’s what I can control.
“You can’t have a good future if you don’t have a good gift, and that’s why I don’t want to think too far away.”
Currently, Robert wants to increase his batting average and reduce his strikeouts while maintaining his power numbers.
“Last year I struggled a little bit with strikes (team highest score of 172) but I think that’s something I can control, prevent strikes,” he said. “If I do that, the average will be there as well as the number.”
[ad_2]