Robert posts impressive numbers in debut
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Luis Robert didn't let the big stage of his Major League debut affect his proclivity to absolutely wow us with his power. In his first big league plate appearance to open the 2020 campaign Friday night, the No. 3 overall prospect in baseball smashed a single to left field that had an exit velocity of 115.8 mph, according to Statcast.
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Not only was that single Robert's first Major League hit, it also had the highest exit velocity on a player's first career hit since Statcast began tracking in 2015. In 2019, the White Sox as a club had only one batted ball with a higher exit velocity all season.
And Robert wasn't done -- in the eighth, he lined a double off the wall in right-center field with an exit velocity of 103.8 mph.
"I felt good today; I felt very good. I'm happy. I got two hits, my first two hits in the Major Leagues," said Robert through an interpreter. "I was excited. It was a little bittersweet because we lost today. You always want the team to win, and that's why we play."
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In a matter of weeks, we've witnessed Robert homer while falling down in the batter's box during Summer Camp, launch two mammoth shots to the far reaches of Guaranteed Rate Field in an exhibition game, and now absolutely crush a pair of hits in his MLB debut.
And it's just the beginning for Robert, a player we may very well be marveling at for years to come.