Chicago White Sox star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. has been placed on the 10-day disabled list with a right flexor strain, the team announced Saturday. He left Friday night's 2-1 loss to the Kansas City Royals (box score) with an injury while running the bases. According to James Fegan of Sock Machine:. Robert started staggering after connecting to first base with a double in the 9th inning. He reached second base, but only after almost hopping with his left foot.
Robert was then used in favor of pinch runner and utility infielder Braden Shoemake. This is what the injury looks like.
Robert entered Friday night's contest batting .208/.240/.500 (108 OPS+) with two home runs through the first six games of the season. He went 1-for-4 with the aforementioned double against the Royals. Robert is arguably the White Sox' best player, and his absence in any capacity would further sink the club, which is now 1-6 on the season with Friday's loss.
Robert, 26, unfortunately has a reputation for being injury-prone. This is his fifth season in the majors, but he has played in more than 100 games in only one of the past three seasons in regulation. To his credit, he appeared in 56 of Chicago's 60 games during the COVID-19 shortened 2020 season. Still, this type of injury is nothing new for Robert, who missed three months in 2021 with a torn right hip flexor.
Robert joins designated hitter Eloy Jimenez. (The White Sox placed Jimenez, who had been sidelined since Sunday with a left adductor strain, on the IL early Friday.) In response, they purchased the contract of veteran outfielder Robbie Grossman. ) Kevin Pillar will likely be the center fielder, but the White Sox have several other options available in Triple-A Charlotte, including Zach DeLoach and Brett Phillips.
Infielder Lenin Sosa was called up to fill Robert's roster spot. The White Sox continue their series against the Royals on Saturday.
