CHICAGO (670 The Score) -- As White Sox rookie outfielder Luis Robert's home runs in intrasquad games have created endless buzz in summer camp, the man himself is making a point to separate himself from the hype of the highlight reels.
"I see myself as a complete hitter," Robert said Sunday. "I don't see myself as just a home run hitter. Sometimes when I think of hitting homers, I get too anxious. That is no good for my game. My goal is to make good and solid contact during summer camp, and I have been able to do that.
"My plan will always be the same. Making good contact is what I say and try to hit my pitch in an at-bat. Good contact is what I can try to control and work on."
Robert, 22, understands the dynamic will change come Friday, when the White Sox host the Twins in their season opener. Minnesota ace Jose Berrios will provide one of the toughest tests in Robert's career and look to mix it up with fastballs up and out of the zone and breaking balls down and away.
With that in mind, Robert knows having patience and making adjustments against elite pitchers will be key for him.
"I know the pitcher will be attacking good hitters with breaking balls," Robert said. "I feel I will be able to make those adjustments, and I have been working on that during this summer camp. I started this camp hitting homers, and I need to adjust because I got too anxious. So I have tried to refocus. I needed to be more patient in my approach. It's important to recognize the balls out of the zone and let them go. I will learn to take the pitch if it's not in the hitting zone. That is all I need to do."
Robert has been turning to second-year White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez for advice, knowing Jimenez went through a similar rookie experience last year.
"It has been important to have Eloy during this process," Robert said. "He went through this last year. He has had that experience, and he has been helping me by giving advice. The part he tells me is not to get crazy if I go into a slump or don't start off with a hit in my first at-bat or game. The main thing I have taken from him is to be patient and the confidence I have to have in myself. In good or bad times, he has told me not to get discouraged. I appreciate the advice because he went through that last year."
Robert has a simple goal: help the White Sox win in any way he can. While he boasts big power potential, he knows there are plenty of others who can fill that role too.
"Our lineup is our strength," he said. "We have very good chemistry in our group. We have hitters that can hit for power and for contact. We have guys with speed, so if you combine all of that you will see it can be good and equally balanced. We will be able to do some damage and have a tough lineup for pitchers to navigate through."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
