Earlier today, prized international sensation Luis Robert took batting practice and ran through a couple drills for his first open showcase. Scouts from just about every team were in attendance to see the 6’3, 205-pound outfielder, including the White Sox.
The White Sox sent someone in particular to oversee Robert’s first workout. That would be Marco Paddy. For those who do not know, Paddy is the White Sox director of Latin American Scouting. In other words, Rick Hahn and the rest of the front office are not messing around and just sending someone to watch because they are obligated. Quite the opposite in fact. Rick Hahn and the White Sox are dead set on bringing this kid to the South Side. They already have a private workout set up with Robert sometime next week, where they can see him do more of this.
Cuban OF Luis Robert taking BP at his showcase in the Dominican Republic this morning: https://t.co/y6iV4OTao4 pic.twitter.com/DHxpm6ev0A
— Ben Badler (@BenBadler) March 30, 2017
The sound the ball makes coming off of Robert’s bat should be music to any baseball fan’s ears. That is EASY power. Granted it was just batting practice, but he has an incredibly smooth swing. However, power is not the only thing that Luis Robert brings to the table. In fact, it is not even his best tool. That would be his speed.
Happening now in the Dominican Republic. Sources tell me he ran the 60 in 6.2 seconds. https://t.co/vaEN0bcDBP
— Jesse Sanchez (@JesseSanchezMLB) March 30, 2017
6.2 seconds! For a comparison, White Sox top prospect Yoan Moncada, quite the speedster himself, ran the 60 in 6.6. A 6.2 60 would be an 80 grade speed tool to most scouts. There are probably only a handful of players in the MLB who can fly as fast as Robert can. With his combination of speed and raw power, this kid’s potential is limitless.
Who Gets Him?
Where Robert signs will heavily depend on when the MLB clears him as a free agent. If that happens before June 15th, then teams that are already over the international spending pool limit can still offer him contracts. If he is not cleared until after June 15th, then every team already over the pool is automatically eliminated from offering him a contract. The White Sox are going to make him a lucrative offer regardless of when he is cleared, but they would automatically become the favorite to sign him if he is not declared a free agent until after June 15th. Perhaps the best thing about Robert not being declared a free agent until after June 15th is that the max a team can offer him is just $10MM. Locking up a talent like Robert for that cheap would be an absolute steal for any team.
In short, the White Sox chances of signing Robert are definitely high either way, but the best case scenario for them is that the MLB does not declare him a free agent until after June 15th. The Luis Robert hype train is starting to pick up steam around the league. The final stop could very well be 35th and Shields.
