White Sox Temporarily Bench Robert Jr. Amid Extended Struggles

After managing just six runs over their previous four games, the White Sox offense broke out in a big way Tuesday night with an 8–1 win over the Tigers. Notably absent from the starting lineup was Luis Robert Jr., who was held out as part of the team’s strategy to give him a short break in hopes of helping the slumping center fielder regain his form.

In his last seven games, Robert has gone 1 for 20 at the plate with ten strikeouts and three walks. Adding insult to injury, the White Sox had lost seven of their last eight games before Robert was replaced with Michael A Taylor in center field on Tuesday. 

Taylor responded by going 1 for 2 with four RBIs, a pair of walks, and a three-run homer. 

Robert’s recent struggles add to a broader season-long slump where Robert is hitting a career low .177 with five homers and 20 RBIs through 55 games. 

Robert has been working with White Sox hitting director Ryan Fuller on improving his timing at the plate by refining his leg kick to help him get into a better rhythm, avoid overstepping, and maximize his natural power. 

White Sox manager Will Venable told reporters that the plan is to leave Robert out of the starting lineup as well. 

“He’ll be available, but not in the starting lineup, just to give an opportunity to really dial in some of these adjustments without just feeling the pressure of having to go out there and perform,” Venable said ahead of Tuesday’s game. “He’s in a good spot physically. And just want to give him a couple of days here to lock in some of those adjustments.”

Robert has still found ways to contribute. He entered Tuesday with a major league-leading 21 stolen bases and has provided Gold Glove caliber defense in center field. 

Venable admitted that Robert has been nursing a sore knee but does not believe it has impacted him at the plate. 

“There’s some soreness, but I think that it’s not more than any soreness that all these guys feel during the course of the summer and playing hard out there every day,” Venable said. 

Both Venable and Fuller have said Robert has been receptive to changes to his swing, with Venable adding that the 2023 All-Star has taken the temporary benching in stride. 

“He’s put in a ton of work and working extremely hard all throughout the day to try and get this thing right,” Venable said. “He agreed that it would be a good idea just to press pause on the games, just for a couple of games here.”