Luis Robert

Luis Robert Moirán (born August 3, 1997) is a Cuban professional baseball outfielder for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB).

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Robert and the second or maternal family name is Moirán.
Luis Robert
Robert with the Charlotte Knights in 2019
Chicago White Sox – No. 88
Outfielder
Born: (1997-08-03) August 3, 1997
Ciego de Ávila, Cuba
Bats: Right Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 24, 2020, for the Chicago White Sox
MLB statistics
(through September 27, 2020)
Batting average.233
Home runs11
Runs batted in31
Teams
Career highlights and awards

Career

Robert was named to the all-tournament team in the 2015 18U Baseball World Cup.[1] He played in the Cuban National Series for Ciego de Ávila from 2013 to 2015.[2][3] In June 2016, he played for the Cuban national team in the Can-Am League.[4][5]

In November 2016, Robert defected from Cuba to pursue a Major League Baseball (MLB) career in the United States.[6][7] On April 20, 2017, he was successfully declared a free agent, but was not eligible to sign with any big league club until May 20.[8][9]

On May 27, 2017, Robert signed a contract with the Chicago White Sox including a $26 million signing bonus.[10][11] After signing, he reported to the DSL White Sox and played 28 games there, posting a .310 batting average with three home runs, 14 RBIs, 22 bases on balls, and 12 stolen bases.[12]

In 2018, Robert made his first start at outfield in a spring training game and hit a two-out, go-ahead grand slam in the eighth inning, to lift the White Sox to a 14–12 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.[13] Unfortunately, Robert was expected to miss approximately 10 weeks because of a sprained ligament in his left thumb suffered while sliding into second base early in the game.[14]

Robert began 2019 with the Winston-Salem Dash,[15] and was promoted to the Birmingham Barons on April 30.[16] Robert was named to the 2019 All-Star Futures Game.[17] On July 11, he made his debut with Class AAA Charlotte, and hit 2 home runs in his first game with 7 RBIs. Robert joined the 30/30 club by hitting 30 home runs and stealing 36 bases for the season.

He was second in the minor leagues in 2019 with 108 runs and led the minors with 165 hits.[18]

On January 2, 2020, Robert agreed to a six-year, $50 million contract with the Chicago White Sox before appearing in a major league game.[19] The contract includes team options for 2026 and 2027 which, if exercised, could bring the value of the contract to $88 million.[20] On July 24, he made his MLB debut. July 26, he recorded first MLB home run.[21]

Helping to propel the White Sox to a 22–14 record through the month of August, Robert batted .298/.356/.660 that included seven doubles, nine home runs, 20 RBI, and three stolen bases over 26 games. He won the American League (AL) Rookie of the Month Award, his first monthly award in the major leagues.[22]

In 2020 he batted .233/.302/.436 in 202 at bats as the White Sox clinched their first playoff birth since 2008.[23] Robert hit his first postseason home run in game 3 of the Wild Card Series against the Oakland Athletics off of Mike Fiers. His home run was measured at 487 ft. It was the longest postseason home run in White Sox history.[24] On defense, he played closer to home plate, at 317 feet, than any major league center fielder who played for 100 or more plate appearances.[25] He won the Gold Glove Award for center field, becoming the second White Sox player in history to win the award in his rookie season.[26]

References
  1. "Cuban Luis Robert top international prospect". Major League Baseball.
  2. "Grandes Ligas observa al prospecto cubano Luis Robert Moirán".
  3. "El mejor pelotero que quedaba en Series Nacionales podría estar fuera de Cuba".
  4. "Cuba Sending Two Top Prospects To U.S. On Can-Am Trip - BaseballAmerica.com". 28 May 2016.
  5. "Who do scouts have their eyes on with the Cuban National team in town?".
  6. "Luis Robert Leaves Cuba, With Clock Ticking Before New Rules Begin - BaseballAmerica.com". 9 January 2017.
  7. Calcaterra, Craig (10 January 2017). "Top prospect Luis Robert leaves Cuba".
  8. Sanchez, Jesse. "Source: Cuban OF Robert cleared to sign May 20". MLB. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  9. Sanchez, Jesse. "5 favorites to sign Cuban OF phenom Robert". MLB. Retrieved April 21, 2017.
  10. "OF Robert gets $26M bonus in White Sox deal". ESPN.com. May 27, 2017.
  11. Skrbina, Paul. "White Sox officially welcome aboard Cuban phenom Luis Robert". chicagotribune.com.
  12. "Luis Robert Stats, Highlights, Bio - MiLB.com Stats - The Official Site of Minor League Baseball". Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  13. Top prospect Robert wows with grand slam. MLB.com. Retrieved on March 11, 2018.
  14. No. 3 White Sox prospect Robert out 10 weeks. MLB.com. Retrieved on March 11, 2018.
  15. "Robert off to the races for Dash". MiLB.com. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  16. Scot Gregor (April 30, 2019). "Chicago White Sox promote star prospect Luis Robert to Class AA Birmingham". Daily Herald. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  17. Jim Callis (June 28, 2019). "Here are the 2019 Futures Game rosters". MLB.com. Retrieved June 28, 2019.
  18. "2019 Register Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. 1970-01-01. Retrieved 2019-11-09.
  19. "New-look White Sox, Robert agree to $50M deal". ESPN.com. January 2, 2020.
  20. Nightengale, Bob, and Yomtov, Jesse (January 2, 2020). "White Sox agree to long-term contract with top prospect Luis Robert". usatoday.com. Retrieved January 2, 2020.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  21. Scott Merkin (July 26, 2020). "White Sox phenom Robert rockets 1st HR". MLB.com. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  22. Harrigan, Thomas (September 2, 2020). "Robert, Cronenworth top rookies for August". MLB.com. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  23. "Luis Robert Stats". Baseball-Reference.com.
  24. "Luis Robert launches a 487 foot homer in game 3 of the AL Wild Card Series against the A's". Matt Snyder. October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  25. "MLB Situational Fielder Positioning". baseballsavant.com.
  26. Duber, Vinnie (November 3, 2020). "Sox rookie Luis Robert wins Gold Glove Award". NBC Sports. Retrieved December 1, 2020.
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