White Sox's Luis Robert Jr. Out Indefinitely With Hamstring Injury
White Soxs Luis Robert Jr. Out Indefinitely With Hamstring Injury...
Chicago White Sox star center fielder Luis Robert Jr. will miss significant time after suffering a Grade 2 hamstring strain during Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. The injury occurred in the third inning as Robert attempted to beat out an infield single, immediately grabbing his left leg in visible pain.
The 28-year-old All-Star was helped off the field and underwent an MRI Thursday morning that revealed the moderate strain. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol told reporters Robert will be reevaluated in 4-6 weeks, but hamstring injuries of this severity typically require 6-8 weeks of recovery time.
Robert's absence deals a major blow to the White Sox, who entered Thursday with a 5-8 record in the AL Central. The Cuban-born outfielder was off to a strong start, batting .289 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs through 13 games while playing elite defense in center field.
This marks Robert's third significant injury since 2021, raising concerns about his durability. He missed three months last season with a hip flexor strain and played just 68 games in 2021 due to a torn hip flexor. The White Sox signed Robert to a six-year, $50 million contract extension in 2020 that runs through 2027.
Fans took to social media to express frustration, with many noting the team's inability to keep its core players healthy. The White Sox will likely turn to veteran Kevin Pillar and rookie Dominic Fletcher to fill the void in center field during Robert's absence.
Robert's injury comes at a difficult time for the organization, which entered the season with playoff aspirations after finishing 61-101 last year. The team is already without third baseman Yoán Moncada, who suffered a left adductor strain last week.
Hamstring injuries have been trending across MLB this season, with several star players including Ronald Acuña Jr. and Jose Altuve missing time with similar issues. Sports medicine experts attribute the spike to the condensed spring training schedule following the lockout.
The White Sox begin a three-game series against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 PM CT.
