Luis Robert Jr. grounded out sharply to shortstop in the second inning on Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals.
It turned out to be the only at-bat of the game for the Chicago White Sox center fielder. He exited ahead of the fourth inning with soreness in his left hamstring, and he was placed on the 10-day injured list Wednesday with a left hamstring strain.
“It was a Grade 2 strain — what comes with that is several weeks,” general manager Chris Getz said before Wednesday’s game against the Kansas City Royals at Rate Field. “We don’t know precisely. At this point of the year, time is not necessarily a friend with players returning. So there is a chance that perhaps he doesn’t make it back by the end of the year. Our focus at this point is addressing the hamstring.
“It’s unfortunate news. Luis is very disappointed, as you would expect. Obviously, it’s a hit for us because Luis had been playing so well.”
Robert is slashing .223/.297/.364 with 14 home runs, 53 RBI, 52 runs and 33 stolen bases in 110 games. After a slow start at the plate, he has a .298/.352/.456 slash line in the second half.
“His resurgence in the second half was documented,” Getz said. “He was impacting our team and the reason we have been able to get more wins is because a lot had to do with Luis Robert’s performance on both sides of the ball. He had one of the better center-field games I’ve seen from him (making a pair of diving catches in an 8-0 win against the Minnesota Twins on Sunday).
“To lose him is certainly a hit. But at this point, we will get him healthy and ready for, prepare him to come back here or get ready for next season.”
Robert was mentioned in trade speculation leading up to the July 31 deadline, but the Sox held on to the center fielder and he’s been one of the sparks for a team that has hit well since the All-Star break.
“There were mechanical focuses he was able to apply to his game and gain some confidence that really helped the ballclub,” Getz said.
Getz and manager Will Venable lauded the variety of ways Robert has impacted games.
“He’s played extremely hard,” Venable said. “He’s a guy that wants to be out there. Every time I tell him that he’s got a day off, he fights me on it and it’s just because he wants to be out there, he wants to play hard, he wants to set the tone for the guys and compete. Not to have him out there is going to be tough.
“It’s tough when one of your main guys, or any of your guys, hits the IL it’s disappointing. So certainly for us and Luis, to lose Luis is tough.”
Getz added: “At his floor of just defense and baserunning there’s a tremendous amount of value. And then obviously, he’s got the ability to hit as many home runs as he did in 2023 (38), but he doesn’t have to do that to still give a boost to this team. So that just speaks to how dynamic of a player he is and can be, and we’re going to continue to support him.”
Michael A. Taylor stepped in to start in center field for the Sox on Wednesday.
“Hard to replace a guy like that, but we’ve got (Brooks) Baldwin who we’ll throw out there,” Venable said. “Michael Taylor, whom we love, that we’ll throw out there in the outfield. For us to get through a year, it’s next guy up and guys got to step up and fill in.”
Robert, 28, has had to bounce back from different injury setbacks in the past — such as last year when he missed time because of a right hip flexor strain. The 110 games played this season are the second-most in his six-year major-league career — only topped by 145 during his All-Star season of 2023.
His current contract includes $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027, with $2 million buyouts for either season.
“We are committed to Luis,” Getz said. “You look back at what he’s done with our team. Even a little bit before the second half began, and he’s done really well against lefties and he’s had glimpses against righties. You look at the defense, the baserunning. He was showing everyone what he’s capable of doing. He can be such a boost to this lineup and this team and that’s why we are talking about it today.
“Injuries are part of the game. They have unfortunately been part of his history. He’s played in 110 games this season. And he’s really risen in terms of the impact on this team and the league. And a lot of that quality work happened in this second-half window. For what he’s capable of doing, the talent, the impact he can have on this club, we like having Luis Robert here.”