Best- Luis Robert, White Sox (OF) – 4-6 2R 2RBI 1HR
Luis Robert was picked by most baseball analysts as the player to win AL Rookie of the Year. Not only does he look like a shoo-in for Rookie of the Year, but he is also brought up in MVP conversations. Robert spent most of his time batting from the bottom half of the order, but on Saturday, Robert was moved to the leadoff position against the Kansas City Royal. Robert will get ten days, while Tim Anderson is on the IL for a groin injury, to prove that he belongs in the top of the order.
Robert started his White Sox career with a six-game hitting streak that ended on Friday night. Unphased, Robert went on to hit a triple away from the first cycle of his career on Saturday. This was also Robert’s first four-hit game of his seven-game career. Robert has been everything and more than the organization had envisioned when they signed him straight out of Cuba for $52 Million in 2017.
Robert struggled with injuries his first two years in the minor league, giving the White Sox intermittent glimpses of what he could do. Despite his injuries, 2019 brought high expectations for Robert. He started the year rated as the #11 prospect in all of the MLB. Robert went through three different levels of the minors in 2019, amassing a .328AVG, 36SB, 32HR, 92RBI, and 122G. Robert was awarded top minor league player honors and was expected to be moving to the big leagues by the start of the 2020season.
Savvy general manager Rick Hahn was able to lock Robert up for the next six years by giving him a $50 million contract. Hahn has made the brilliant move of signing his young core to long term deals. Yoan Moncada and Eloy Jimenez, who, like Robert, got signed to a multi-year deal before taking their first big league swing. With a young core and great veterans, Robert will have very little pressure from the clubhouse. As a rookie, Robert is proving that no game is too big and that he is ready to contribute in considerable ways to this new White Sox team.
Other Notables: Tyler Chatwood SP Cubs – 6.2IP 3H 0ER 2BB 11K 1W; Eloy Jimenez OF White Sox – 4-6 1R 4RBI 1HR; Kenta Maeda SP Twins – 6IP 1H a 1BB 6K 1W; Luery Garcia SS White Sox – 4-5 1R 1RBI; Kyle Freeland SP Rockies – 6IP 0ER 4K 1BB 1W.
Worst – Josh Bell 1B Pirates – .188AVG 1HR 1RBI 5R 9G
Josh Bell was a revelation last season (.277AVG 37HR 116RBI 94R 143G) and had looked to be a piece to build around, but his horrific start to the 2020 season might have the Pirates looking for other 1B options.
The Pirates were not considered to be in the top tier for the 2020 season, but they were thought to have one of the better offensive options at first base. However, Bell’s lousy start to the season is magnified for a team that is already short on talent.
The Pirates have shown to be quick to pull the trigger on trading their best players regardless of whether or not living up to their potential, i.e., Tyler Glasnow (SP), Starling Marte (OF), and Gerrit Cole (P). The Pirates are out of the playoff race; they would not hesitate to trade Bell for some young prospects that can help with their rebuild.
A trade could help Bell if he ended up on a team that has other dangerous hitters, allowing for some protection the Pirates lineup cannot offer. Regardless, Bell is 28, which should be the prime of his career, but the Pirates are not in wait and see mode. Bell has to step it up, not just for the Pirates, but himself.
Extra Trash: Zach Godley SP Red Sox – 3.1IP 6H 5ER 2BB 1K 1L; Manuel Margot OF Rays – 0-5; Michael Wacha SP Mets – 4IP 5ER 5K 2BB 1L; Carlos Santana 1B Cleveland – 0-4 3K; Ronald Bolanos P Royals – 1.2IP 5H 5ER 2BB 1K 1L.