CHICAGO -- Luis Robert's first at-bat as a member of the White Sox organization resulted in a one-out grounder to the pitcher, stranding a runner at third base for the South Siders' Dominican Summer League squad on Monday.
His second at-bat in the third inning featured a little more impact, as he hit a long home run to left field.
"I'm really happy about the way the game went for me," said the White Sox No. 3 prospect according to MLBPipeline.com, through interpreter Billy Russo. "I hit my first home run as a professional.
"I was very happy running around the bases. It was a very special moment for me. I got the baseball and I'm going to save it in a special place."
Robert, 19, came to the White Sox last month after agreeing to a $26 million signing bonus as the top international free agent available. The deal was announced on May 27 and he has been working at the White Sox Dominican Academy for the past week before debuting on Monday.
"I've been working on my throws to the bases, to the cutoff men and on my offense, specifically trying to hit the ball to the opposite field," Robert said. "Today's game was a great experience. I went seven months without playing in a real game and was really anxious.
"But I felt really good. I liked the atmosphere with the team. I enjoyed being around my teammates. I've worked on getting to know them since my first day here."
Jones hoping to get back on the mound
Nate Jones did not travel with the White Sox on their nine-game road trip ending Sunday, as the symptoms of his right elbow neuritis crept back up again after throwing five bullpen sessions during rehab work.
"We wanted to get ahead of it. I got shut down again," Jones said. "Right now, waiting for the doctor to run his tests again, test me out and see if we can start getting after it.
"Once I started throwing off the mound, stuff like that, it started creeping back. We decided it was better to get me back and not get halfway back and have to deal with it the whole season. We got out in front of it and got shut down for a little bit and hoping that helps and that works."
Jones had another MRI that showed up clean with the ligament being strong. He has a 2.30 ERA over 11 games in 2017 but has been on the disabled list retroactive to May 1 and has not pitched since April 28.
Also, center fielder Leury Garcia was having his left hand X-rayed Monday night. He was wearing a wrap on the injured area after jamming his hand sliding into first base on the first play of Sunday's loss.