White Sox center fielder Luis Robert Jr. has decided to participate in the 2023 Home Run Derby, joining fellow Cuban players Randy Arozarena and Adolis García. Initially hesitant to enter the competition, Robert was convinced by his countrymen to join the fun. The Derby is scheduled to take place on Monday at 7 p.m. CT at T-Mobile Park and will be televised on ESPN.
Robert, who ranks second in the American League and third in MLB with 25 home runs this season, is excited to represent his country and hopes to outperform his previous Home Run Derby experience in Cuba, where he failed to hit any home runs. He sees it as an honor to represent Cuba and feels proud to carry his country wherever he goes.
Despite his participation in the Derby, Robert is not worried about it affecting his performance in the second half of the season. White Sox manager Pedro Grifol believes that although Robert might be pumped up for the competition, his swing won’t change. The team needs him to come back healthy and ready for the second half of the season.
In preparation for the Derby, Robert will practice with Luis Sierra, a White Sox bullpen catcher from Colombia who will be the Derby hurler. Robert plans to take a smart approach to the competition and won’t try to pull every ball, as it could create some issues. His main goal is to go out there, have fun, and hopefully do a good job, and maybe even win.
The last White Sox player to participate in the Home Run Derby was Todd Frazier in 2016, who reached the finals but lost to Giancarlo Stanton. Robert hopes to have better results and make his mark in the competition. With his impressive season and power at the plate, Robert has the potential to become one of the superstars in the game.