CHICAGO -- Since Luis Robert began his Minor League career with the White Sox in 2017, the No. 17 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline has put up Most Valuable Player-caliber numbers.

The 21-year-old has played 129 Minor League games overall, producing a slash line of .325/.407/.534 in 474 at-bats. He has 14 home runs, 37 doubles, 10 triples and 45 stolen bases in 60 attempts.

Even highlights of his Minor League success make Robert look like a big leaguer biding his time until his official callup arrives. And Robert never has had any doubts, even when he battled through an injury-plagued 2018 season.

“Of course, I thought I could be a successful player here in the U.S. That was my thought when I left Cuba,” said Robert through interpreter Billy Russo. “Last year, it felt weird for me because I wasn’t producing as I know that I could.

“It was because too many injuries and too many things happened. This year, I’m fortunately healthy and I’ve been able to do the things I know I can do and display all my talents.”

Robert’s immense talents have earned him the White Sox Minor League Player of the Month honors in both April and May. The April award came as part of Class A Advanced Winston-Salem, where he hit .453 with a 1.432 OPS over 75 at-bats. The May award was earned with Double-A Birmingham, as Robert batted .311 with 12 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 14 RBIs, eight stolen bases, 16 runs scored, a .360 on-base percentage and .524 slugging percentage over 26 games.

“My biggest adjustment has been to identify how the pitchers are attacking me here,” said Robert of the Birmingham promotion. “When I was with Winston-Salem, I knew that when the count was in my favor, 2-0, the pitchers would try to attack me with a fastball.

“Here in that same count, pitchers are throwing me breaking balls. So far, I’ve been feeling good and I’ve been able to make those adjustments successfully.”

After the day is done with Birmingham, the center fielder always checks in to see how his friends are doing with the White Sox. It seemed fairly certain Robert wouldn’t make his big league debut in 2019, especially after last year’s missed time due to injuries.

But continued success along the lofty levels Robert produced in his first two months might force the White Sox hand.

“I still have a lot to learn to get [the] results I’m going to get as soon as I get to the Majors,” Robert said. “I know the people in the organization are checking on me, tracking me, to see how I’ve progressed. I’m just trying to learn and trying to be as prepared as I can for when the team decides to give me that call to the Majors.

“Right now, I’m just trying to do my job. Learn and be ready and be the kind of player everybody thinks I can be and of course be the kind of player I know I can be when I get to the Majors.”

Kubat being himself

Kyle Kubat, the White Sox Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May, went undrafted out of Nebraska. He admits to shedding tears at the time and feeling great frustration, based on his desire to play professional baseball.

The 26-year-old left-hander never gave up and now he’s thriving for the Barons, posting a 3-1 record with a 1.38 ERA over 39 innings in May. He posted a .224 average against and 0.97 WHIP.

“Being able to stick to a routine, stick to what I do best and making sure I don’t go out there and be someone I’m not,” Kubat said. “Making sure that I go out there and be me and go have fun and I pitch to contact and try to get you out and get the game over as fast as possible.”