CHICAGO -- Outfielder Luis Robert, the No. 5 overall prospect per MLB Pipeline, and second baseman Nick Madrigal, rated No. 39 overall, will represent the White Sox as part of the 2019 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game, which will be played at 6 p.m. CT on Sunday, July 7, at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

Robert and Madrigal will be part of the American League roster, with the contest moving to an AL vs. NL format, as opposed to United States vs. World, which has been the format for the past 20 years. But it won’t be long before this duo is part of the White Sox everyday lineup, an exciting idea for manager Rick Renteria and everyone else in the organization.

“I’ve been excited for three years knowing that there’s a plan in place so to speak, and a way of going hopefully to put us in a good position as we move forward,” Renteria said. “It’s getting closer and closer. We’re starting to see some of the young men obviously here at the big league level, and as soon as the other men that are within our organization, as they continue to experience and develop and arrive here on the scene with us as Chicago White Sox, it’s going to be a pretty exciting time.

“All of them will still, like some of the kids that are here now, go through their growth, and there’s a curve in which they’ll understand and learn and go through bumps and bruises. But in essence, you’re looking at a very bright future for the Chicago White Sox.”

Madrigal has a .303 average with 26 stolen bases and seven strikeouts over 264 at-bats for Class A Advanced Winston-Salem and Double-A Birmingham this season. Robert is slashing a robust .357/.409/.636 between stops for the Dash and the Barons, with 15 home runs, 51 RBIs, 56 runs scored and 22 stolen bases.

Both showed off Major League-caliber talent back in Spring Training. It likely won’t be long before they are showing the same on a daily basis for the White Sox.

“In terms of where we had hoped they would be over the course of the ’19 season, I’m not sure we could ask for much more,” White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. “Talking with [Birmingham manager] Omar Vizquel and the staff there over the last couple of days, they can’t sing their praises loudly enough in terms of work ethic and what they’re bringing in between the white lines.” 

Detwiler’s White Sox connection

Ross Detwiler had a White Sox connection even before he made his debut with the club Friday against the Twins and earned his first victory since 2016. The veteran left-hander was a throwing partner of Mark Buehrle, who was a four-time All-Star over 12 seasons as part of the South Siders, in the offseason prior to the 2012 season. The two lived about 15 minutes apart in Missouri and worked out as part of a group at the then St. Louis Rams practice facility.

“We showed up at the same time one day and he became my throwing partner,” Detwiler said. “We were in contact before that. We have the same agent. So he put us in contact since we live so close to each other. He’s not a tough guy to like. Completely down to earth. Nicest guy ever.

“He’s a pro’s pro. Day in and day out and you watch what he does. He never missed a start, right? To do that no matter how you are going it’s pretty unbelievable.”

Third to first

Dylan Covey threw a bullpen Saturday after making a two-inning injury rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on Wednesday. He was unsure of the next step, but felt as if the White Sox wanted him to build up a little more strength. Covey has been on the injured list retroactive to June 6 with right shoulder inflammation.

Zack Collins, who started and hit eighth in Saturday’s White Sox lineup, took his first career at-bats at Guaranteed Rate Field.

He said it

“He's got good enough stuff to do that. Nobody would mistake that his stuff is lights out. When he's good, he can dominate any hitter.” -- Renteria, on Aaron Bummer’s closer potential