CHICAGO – The White Sox placed Luis Robert Jr. on the 10-day injured list one hour before Sunday’s 5-2 series-clinching victory against the Giants, with the move made retroactive to Thursday. Robert has been hampered by a left hamstring strain.
The veteran center fielder started Wednesday afternoon’s game against the Diamondbacks but was pinch-hit for by Austin Slater in the bottom of the first. Robert injured himself on the final play of the top of the first, coming up slowly as he chased a Lourdes Gurriel Jr. fly ball that was caught by right fielder Michael A. Taylor.
“Felt a little bit better, but [he] just wasn’t in a place where we thought he was going to progress,” said White Sox manager Will Venable after his squad finished the homestand 3-3. “Just to do the right thing by the player.
“We want to be cautious, put him on the IL. Still think it will be fairly quick, not overly concerned. Don’t want to push him and put him in a bad spot.”
Robert, 27, is slashing .185/.270/.313 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs over 73 games this season, his sixth with the White Sox. He has been the focus of trade rumors since this past offseason, with the team owing him the remainder of the $15 million for this season and holding a pair of $20 million options for 2026 and ‘27 with a $2 million buyout.
Robert has played solid defense, ranks second in the American League with 22 stolen bases and had been healthy up until this recent injury, but he has not hit consistently.
The Sox will make a corresponding roster move prior to Tuesday’s series opener at Dodger Stadium. Left-hander Jake Palisch cleared waivers and has been outrighted to Double-A Birmingham, taking the 40-man roster down to 39.