GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Luis Robert's five-tool ability doesn¡¯t require much of a hype man.
His center-field defense basically covering from line to line for the White Sox or his 487-foot home runs pretty much speak for themselves. But on Wednesday, following the White Sox workout at Camelback Ranch, manager Tony La Russa added his analysis in strong support of the 2020 American League Rookie of the Year Award runner-up.
And he did so with the help of a Hall of Famer.
¡°I saw Frank Thomas this offseason, and he told me, ¡®You've heard of five-tool players?¡¯ I said, ¡®Sure.¡¯ He says, ¡®Luis is a six-tool player.¡¯ I thought, ¡®Nah,¡¯¡± said a smiling La Russa during Wednesday¡¯s Zoom. ¡°Now I'm watching him, and I say, ¡®Yeah.¡¯ I could see. He's got another gear or level he goes to.¡±
La Russa originally was asked about the impressive talent possessed by this ¡°six-tool player.¡± He came up with the one-word answer of ¡°indescribable.¡±
The 23-year-old Robert not only was the favorite to win the AL Rookie of the Year, but he also was in the AL Most Valuable Player Award conversation at the end of August last season. At that point, he was hitting .298 with a .960 OPS, 10 home runs and 24 RBIs. Much like even the greatest of players, though, Robert¡¯s success wasn¡¯t uninterrupted.
His 23-game September effort resulted in an 11-for-81 showing at the plate with one homer, seven RBIs and 32 strikeouts as Robert¡¯s strike zone expanded. But when asked Wednesday about what was learned from that rough stretch, or really from his rookie season as a whole, Robert felt better days soon were on their way.
¡°I think if last year would have been longer, I would have been able to put up better stats, even though I think I put up decent numbers,¡± Robert said through interpreter Billy Russo. ¡°The experience that I had the last month, when I had the struggles with my offense, what I learned from that was you need to work hard to get over that moment, because if not, that moment's going to linger longer than what you would like. You have to work even harder when you hit those struggles.
¡°Honestly, when I saw my stats, my numbers were falling down, I said to myself, ¡®Hey, I need to do something, to figure out something.¡¯ Then I kept working hard and tried to do different things with the hitting coach. Those things we worked on were good, because at the end of the season, especially in that last series of the season against the Cubs, I was feeling pretty good and I was showing I was good during the playoffs.¡±
Five of Robert¡¯s 11 hits came in those three games at home against the Cubs. He hit in all three Wild Card Series games against the A¡¯s, finishing 4-for-13 with that Herculean 487-foot blast described above.
Even when he¡¯s not hitting, Robert remains one of the faster players in the AL and a top-notch defensive force up the middle. His glovework earned him a Rawlings Gold Glove.
¡°It was a good feeling. It was a little surprising even though I know my capabilities in the outfield, and I know what I can do out there,¡± Robert said. ¡°But it took me by surprise, because I was paying more attention to the Rookie of the Year Award instead of the Gold Glove. It was definitely a very good feeling.¡±
Look for Robert to hit lower in the lineup when the 2021 season begins, with La Russa wanting the Cuban native to earn his way up to the top of the order. It¡¯s also a function of the White Sox lineup being loaded and balanced from top to bottom, as there¡¯s certainly no doubt on La Russa¡¯s part in Robert¡¯s capabilities.
As an advisor for the Angels in ¡¯20, La Russa was able to watch Mike Trout. La Russa praised the best player in baseball¡¯s talent but also praised his effort, professionalism and the way he treats his teammates as a true teammate and not a superstar.
¡°I was paid a salary for being an advisor,¡± La Russa said. ¡°I'd have paid to sit there, watch him practice and watch him play those games. He was as advertised.¡±
La Russa used that Trout story in comparison to Robert, with Robert being able to run, hit the ball a mile and play great defense.
¡°Those are Mike Trout-type talents,¡± La Russa said. ¡°I don't drop that on Luis right now, except that the talent is -- I like Frank's comment. He's got six tools. I haven't heard that about anybody.¡±