CHICAGO – It was SoxFest 2020 when Eloy Jiménez made the bold prediction of calling teammate Luis Robert “the next Mike Trout.”
That statement followed one of the more complete and dominant Minor League seasons put together by Robert in 2019, where he slashed .328/.376/.624 between stops with three teams, with 108 runs scored, 32 homers, 36 stolen bases and 92 RBIs.
So, how does Jiménez feel about his assessment of Robert, who currently is in the midst of his second big league season?
“You guys can see I don’t lie,” said a smiling Jiménez during a Tuesday media session in the White Sox dugout. “He’s really good. But like I said before, we need to keep working because this is not done yet. And he’s really good, but that’s why he’s been so good when he goes into the game because he works hard here every day.”
Robert, 24, and Jiménez, 24, make up two-thirds of a dominant White Sox outfield and one with the potential to be dominant for many years to come. They both missed significant chunks of time in ‘21, with Jiménez starting the year on the injured list because of surgery to repair a ruptured left pectoral tendon, and Robert joining his friend after a right hip flexor tear suffered on May 2.
They haven’t missed a step based on their production upon return. Or as Jiménez stated, they simply have worked diligently to not only get back but get better.
Jiménez is slashing .278/.317/.539 since rejoining the White Sox on July 26. He has eight home runs, six doubles and 30 RBIs in 29 games played.
Since Robert’s return on Aug. 9, he has a .382/.475/.676 slash line with five homers, five doubles, 13 RBIs and 16 runs scored in 16 games. Robert’s Gold Glove defense remains intact, while Jiménez looks improved during his short time in left field.
“I just feel good,” Jiménez said. “I play hard every single day. Some days I want to reach for a homer, but if it’s way gone, I’m not going to reach anymore. But I feel really good … . It’s been fun. I love it because when I was in Arizona it wasn’t fun. Then I come here and spend time with my boys.”
Lynn on the mend
Where was Lance Lynn going when he flipped his belt on the dugout rail during his start on Aug. 18 against the A’s, a move getting him ejected by umpire Nic Lentz after pitching four innings? The right-handed starter explained the situation on Tuesday, after he was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to Aug. 29) with right knee inflammation.
“Yeah, I was heading in to get a knee brace on,” Lynn said. “It’s doing all right. Hopefully we can use this time here to catch up with it. Schedule kind of works out to where I can try to get back, if not ahead, at least somewhat even with it to where I can manage it start by start. Right now, it’s in a spot where it’s ahead of us.”
The injury arose after his start against the Yankees in the Field of Dreams game on Aug. 12 in Dyersville, Iowa. He’s had the same malady previously but presently it’s a little worse than Lynn would like it to be.
Lynn is one of the prime American League Cy Young contenders with a 10-4 record, 2.59 ERA and 152 strikeouts in 135 2/3 innings. He leads the AL in ERA, opponents average (.204) and slugging percentage against (.338), but this break also could have Lynn fresh for October.
“If it’s longer than one time through the rotation, that’s when you run the risk of having too much time off and losing some of that build up,” Lynn said. “But the way the schedule works out, we’re right on the calendar. I’ll still have the ability to get a couple of starts before October. Hopefully we can get everything on track to where we’re good to go.”
Third to first
• José Abreu became the first White Sox player to reach 100-plus RBIs in 125 games or fewer since Jermaine Dye in 2006 (101 RBIs in 117 games). Abreu leads the Majors with 101 RBIs entering Tuesday.
• Per STATS, the White Sox have scored 10-plus runs, 0 runs and 10-plus runs over a three-game stretch (vs. the Cubs) for the sixth time in franchise history and first since Aug. 23-26, 2003.
He said it
“He never gives up. This season has been up and down for him a lot with the average and all that. But he’s just out there every single day no matter what. That’s the best I can take from him.” -- Jiménez on Abreu.