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Luis Robert signed with the White Sox in May 2017. He didn’t make his big league debut until July 2020.
There was a lot of stuff in there of course. The COVID-19 pandemic delayed its onset on opening day with the White Sox by a few months last season. And before that, if the White Sox had been at a different stage in their rebuilding process, he might have debuted at some point in 2019. Also remember that his development was held back by a busy 2018 season. of injuries.
Regardless of all that, however, Robert was not signed to be an instant addition to the major league roster.
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The same goes for the White Sox’s latest Cuban import, Yoelqui Céspedes, the top-ranked player in this year’s international free agent class who signed with the South Siders on Friday.
But that doesn’t mean the 23-year-old outfielder isn’t near.
“When you talk about a player you never want to put a timeline when he comes in. But from a baseball perspective, he’s very close,” said Marco Paddy, White Sox special assistant to general manager of international operations. , during a conference call on Friday. “He is advanced, he knows how to play the game. Since the age of 19 he has been part of the Cuban national team with a lot of international experience.
“Combined with his Cuban background, he’s very advanced. It’s just a matter of adjusting to him and doing the things he needs to do in order to improve. But he’s very close to the big leagues.”
Paddy’s explanation reminded the White Sox of the last three first-round draft picks: Nick Madrigal, Andrew Vaughn and Garrett Hook. With each pick, the White Sox selected advanced college players who might not need as much seasoning in the minor leagues and could make an impact in the major leagues sooner than the alternatives.
Madrigal made his debut in 2020, roughly two years after being voted No.4 in the 2018 draft, and it would have taken less than two years without the pandemic. Vaughn, the No.3 pick in the 2019 draft, has yet to make his debut but is already being discussed as a potential daily fix for a designated hitter on a 2021 White Sox team with championship expectations. And Crochet made his debut just months after being drafted with the No.11 pick last summer, blowing big league hitters away after not pitching much at all in 2020.
So maybe Céspedes could be looked at the same way, not a ticket to the majors right away, but also not intended for a long stay in the minor league. We’ll see.
“I can’t tell you exactly how close or far I am from the majors because I have never played here. I know the baseball, the quality, is superior to the baseball I played in Cuba,” said Céspedes via team interpreter Billy Russo on Friday. “But I think with the time spent in the miners, I’m going to be able to evolve and show what I can do, and we’ll see how long it takes. But I have confidence in myself.”
When projecting how Céspedes might fit in with the current White Sox big leagues, many of whom have signed long-term contracts, all eyes must be on the right ground. While Paddy described Céspedes as a natural center defender on Friday, Luis Robert’s presence there could create a blockage. The right field, however, could be vacant relatively soon.
The White Sox signed a one-year free agent contract with Adam Eaton this winter with an option for the 2022 season. Who knows if Céspedes would be ready for prime time next year, or even two years from now. , but Eaton’s contract allows the White Sox to line things up, if things turn out that way.
Of course, that’s all on the road. But Céspedes was MLB.com’s No.1 in this international class of free agents for a reason. And the White Sox, with their long-range planning still in effect, even as they envision a championship run in 2021, can’t wait to see that on the big league field someday.
“Ever since I’ve been in Cuba people have told me I’m a five-tool player, even though I didn’t have a lot of power when I played there,” Céspedes said. “But now that I’m stronger, I think I’m a five tool player. And that’s what brought me to the White Sox.”
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