Luis Robert

Position: CF
Born: 8/3/1997
Ht: 6’2″ Wt: 210 lb B-T: R-R
Acquired: Signed for $26,000,000 from Cuba in 2017
Career Stats

FutureSox Prospect Rankings

  • #4 – 2017 Midseason
  • #3 – 2018 Preseason
  • #3 – 2018 Midseason
  • #4 – 2019 Preseason
  • #1 – 2019 Midseason
  • #1 – 2020 Preseason
  • #1 – 2020 Midseason

FutureSox Media

Accolades

  • AFL Rising Stars Game, 2018
  • AFL All-Prospect Team, 2018
  • Southern League All-Star, 2019 Midseason
  • Southern League All-Star Game Top Star, 2019 Midseason
  • Futures Game, 2019
  • AL Gold Glove, 2020

Scouting Report

On May 20, 2017, the White Sox made a splash to sign Robert for a bonus of just over $26 million. Most publications recognized Robert as a top 50 prospect in the game and certainly the top International Prospect in the 2016-2017 signing class. He possesses plus power and speed, along with a chiseled figure. The Cuban sensation also posted sub 6.3-second 60-yard dash times in workouts.

When Robert was 14 years old he starred in Cuba’s 16-and-under league and he played in the 18-and-under league as a 15-year-old. At 16, Robert hit .383 with four homers in the COPABE 18U Pan American Championship back in 2014. In 2015 he was named to the all-tournament team in the 18U division during the Japanese World Cup. As a professional, Robert played for Tigres de Ciego Avila in the Cuban Nacional Series. He hit .393 with 12 home runs and 11 stolen bases last year, as part of a league championship team.

The White Sox assigned him to their affiliate in the Dominican Summer League upon signing, reportedly in part for tax purposes. He was a man among boys, slashing .310/.491/.536 as pitchers avoided his bat like the plague. Sox fans expected 2018 to be Robert’s coming out party, but injuries plagued him. He got a late start, debuting with Kannapoils on June 5 after a thumb injury needed time to heal up. Robert re-injured the same thumb and played just 50 regular season games in 2018. For a player with massive power potential, he didn’t hit any home runs. To make up some of that lost time, Robert played in the AFL where he hit an encouraging .324 and stole five bases against advanced competition.

The coming out party came in 2019. Robert was sent back to Winston-Salem and destroyed the league. He hit eight home runs and posted a 1.432 OPS in 19 games. Robert didn’t slow down much in Double-A Birmingham. He hit .314/.362/.518 in 56 games and was promoted again. He made comical work of Triple-A in the final two months of the minor league season. Robert hit .297/.341/.634 in 47 games with Charlotte, blasting 16 home runs in the process. He finished 2019 with 31 home runs and 32 stolen bases while playing at three levels.

Robert signed a contract extension with the White Sox in the offseason and was on the big league club for all of 2020. He got off to a hot start, but slumped later on in the abbreviated season. He still hit 11 home runs in 56 games and finished with a .738 OPS.

Robert is a true five-tool talent and has been compared to Vladimir Guerrero at a similar age. He has quick bat speed to go along with prodigious right-handed power. He won the AL Gold Glove in center field in his rookie year with the White Sox. The talent and ceiling are huge.