Luis Robert Jr. could return from his hip flexor injury sooner than expected. In a new development, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Robert Jr. is "at 80% running in comeback from hip flexor strain and is taking batting practice." He is on the right path in his recovery process, though manager Pedro Grifol also remarked, "We're going to take our time because we don't want this to happen again."
Robert Jr.'s Injury History
Robert Jr. initially suffered the hip flexor injury on April 5th while running the bases in Kansas City. He was taken out of the game immediately for a pinch runner. Some feared that he would be out for an extended period, especially since he suffered a previous hip flexor injury in 2021 that caused him to miss over three months of that season. The initial timeline for Robert Jr.'s current injury was six to eight weeks, but he could return sooner than that if this recent update is any indication. It has not even been a month since he initially suffered the injury, yet he seems close to getting back into game action. Robert Jr. will almost certainly go on a rehab assignment before returning to the White Sox lineup.
Struggling White Sox Offense In Robert Jr.'s Absence
Robert Jr. only played in seven games this season before going down with his injury, and the lack of his presence in the White Sox lineup has been very noticeable. The team ranks 29th in MLB in home runs, 29th in batting average, 30th in OPS, 30th in on-base percentage, and 30th in slugging percentage. They are at or near the bottom in virtually every offensive category this season. Robert Jr. hit 38 home runs, drove in 80 runs, and had a .857 OPS last season, so it is not surprising that the team has struggled to produce runs with him sidelined.
Trending In The Right Direction
Despite their overall struggles, the White Sox offense has been trending in the right direction lately, largely thanks to new addition Tommy Pham. The team has scored 33 runs in its last six games since adding him to the lineup. Andrew Benintendi and Andrew Vaughn have also started to show signs of life with the bat in recent games, and Robert Jr.'s presence would certainly provide additional reinforcements.
Robert Jr.'s Positive Impact
Robert Jr.'s reinsertion into the lineup could create a logjam. Pham will likely shift to right field once Robert Jr. returns, impacting Gavin Sheets and his playing time. Eloy Jiménez will likely get most at-bats at DH, so Sheets and Andrew Vaughn will likely have to compete for at-bats at first base. However, having too many quality hitters would be a welcome problem for this White Sox team.
While the White Sox season is already over from a competitive standpoint, getting a player like Robert Jr. back is something to look forward to. When healthy, he is one of the best players in the game and will add much-needed excitement and production to a struggling team. Hopefully, Robert Jr. will return better than ever soon and avoid the injury bug moving forward.
