There is not much to look forward to this MLB season if you are a fan of the Chicago White Sox, but one polarizing player is outfielder Luis Robert Jr. He has plenty of talent, but his injury issues have derailed his upside up to this point.
Last season, he played 100 games while hitting .224 with 14 home runs, 35 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. We have been waiting for that massive breakout season when health and his elite traits come together. Could 2025 be the year it happens for Robert?
MLB Analyst Predicts Luis Robert Jr. Goes 40-40
Robert’s best season was 2023, when he hit 38 home runs and stole 20 bases in 145 games. PFSN MLB analyst Frank Ammirante predicts Robert will surpass both marks in 2025.
Ammirante said, “The White Sox outfielder can hit the ball hard (15.4% barrel rate in 2023) and run with the best of them (88th-percentile sprint speed). … If we see him rediscover the barrel rate from 2023 while running at a similar rate as last season, a 40-40 season is within reach.”
Luis Robert Jr. with a jack to LCF. pic.twitter.com/joVLTMABCE
— FutureSox (@FutureSox) March 3, 2025
That is a lofty prediction for a player who has only played over 100 games once in his five-year career. It also does not help that Robert is on the worst team in baseball; opposing pitchers will not have to challenge Robert with a lack of lineup protection around him.
Will Robert Remain in Chicago?
There is a chance the White Sox will trade Robert at some point this season. That would be the best-case scenario for Robert if he finds his way onto a much better offense. Robert will not be an unrestricted free agent until 2028. Also, his team-friendly deal should make him an enticing option to many teams on the trade market, but it comes down to whether or not the White Sox want to build around the 27-year-old.
READ MORE: Bold Predictions for the 2025 MLB Season
The White Sox are in a long rebuilding process and have some nice prospects to show for it. To speed up the process, it would make sense to deal Robert for a substantial package of young players. Many teams around the league could be looking for an outfielder, like the Philadelphia Phillies. During the trade deadline last season, reports surfaced that the Phillies were interested in Robert. Maybe those talks will pick up again this season.
Seeing a healthy Robert could be fun for a White Sox team with no hope of competing in 2025. He is one player prone to breakout, and we should keep an eye on him.
