(670 The Score) White Sox general manager Rick Hahn once likened rookie outfielder Luis Robert to an Under Armour mannequin having come to life.
"It's actually pretty accurate," White Sox right-hander Dylan Cease said Monday. "That's what he looks like.
"He looks like he's going to be a very talented player."
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Robert is built with an imposing figure that will catch the attention of opposing pitchers. Cease certainly noticed it when Robert ripped a ball to the Guaranteed Rate Field alley in the team's workout Monday morning.
Signed by the White Sox out of Cuba in 2017, the 22-year-old Robert landed a new six-year, $50-million contract in January before having ever played in a big league game. He's considered one of the top prospects in baseball entering this shortened 60-game season in 2020, and that new contract paved the way for him to be the starting center fielder on Opening Day later in July.
"I'm planning to give it 100% every time I'm on the field," Robert said. "I'm planning to help the team as much as I can. Hopefully to go to the postseason. And if I'm lucky enough, maybe win the Rookie of the Year. Those are my goals. If I stay healthy, I'm pretty confident that I'll be able to do that."
Robert ripped through the minor leagues in the White Sox's farm system over the past three seasons, slashing .312/.381/.551 in 873 plate appearances across 200 games. He hit 35 home runs and stole 62 bases as well.
While the power and speed elements of Robert's game make him a prototypical leadoff hitter, White Sox manager Rick Renteria isn't ready to make that move just yet. He wants to ease Robert in during his rookie season to keep his confidence up while trusting established hitters in third baseman Yoan Moncada and shortstop Tim Anderson atop the team's batting order.
"This is a young man, as he continues to evolve, will be a guy that can hit anywhere one through five," Renteria said. "That's the kind of talent that he has. So, right now, he's still fairly breaking into the big leagues. If his body of work in a short period of time starts to show us that, 'Man, he can impact us in a significant way somewhere throughout the lineup,' we'll do that."
In seeking the advice from White Sox teammates like outfielder Eloy Jimenez, who was a rookie last season, Robert understands there will be necessary adjustments to make as he transitions to the big leagues.
Still, he's hopeful he won't have to deal with the struggles that many hitters encounter in their rookie season.
"If for whatever reason I don't start the season as hot as I know I can do it, I will do my best to make adjustments as fast as I can," Robert said. "But of course that's not my mindset right now. I'm pretty sure that I'll be able to start the season pretty hot and display all my talent."
Robert projects to be the White Sox's everyday starter in center field this season, and he'll also be considered a frontrunner to win the AL Rookie of the Year award.
It's all part of the expectations that Robert will carry into the big league batter's box as one of MLB's next bright stars.
"I see and hear all of that stuff," Robert said. "I try to not pay attention to it. I know what I can do and sometimes if you hear all that stuff, you're going to put more pressure on you and that's not going to be good for you because you'll want to try more. It's good that people say that, but I just try to not pay too much attention to it."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
