PITTSBURGH -- White Sox manager Pedro Grifol saw Luis Robert Jr. shine while watching from the opposing dugout with the Royals. Now, the first-year skipper is glad to have the 25-year-old center fielder on his side.

Robert continued his impressive start to the season Saturday night with two hits, including a two-run single that capped a five-run seventh inning, to help lead the White Sox to an 11-5 victory over the Pirates at PNC Park.

That performance came a day after Robert hit two home runs and tied a career high with five RBIs as Chicago lost to Pittsburgh, 13-9.

Through the first nine games of the season, Robert’s batting average is .366. He also has four home runs, 10 RBIs and a 1.098 OPS.

The sample size is small. Yet Robert’s performance so far only reinforces why the White Sox and many other people around the sport believe the native of Cuba has the talent to someday be the American League MVP.

“Dynamic talent, dynamic player,” said Grifol, who had been on Kansas City’s coaching staff since Robert broke into the Major Leagues in 2020 before replacing former Chicago manager Tony La Russa prior to this season. “This is who he is. This is who he can be. I love everything he’s doing at the plate. He’s shrinking the strike zone. He’s getting good pitches to hit. And when he does that, it’s pretty special to watch.”

Grifol believes Robert still has plenty of upside.

“He’s got five tools,” Grifol said, referring to Robert’s ability to hit for power, hit for average, run, throw and field. “Just looking forward to watching him play a whole year and see what he can do.

“We have to keep him healthy, which is very important because he goes out there and shags balls like it’s the seventh game of the World Series, and then he plays like it.”

Injuries have indeed been the only thing to derail Robert since he finished second to Kyle Lewis in AL Rookie of the Year voting in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season.

Robert was limited to 68 games in 2021 because of a torn flexor tendon in his right hip. Last season, he played in 98 games, as he was sidelined by headaches, blurred vision and a sprained left wrist, as well as a bout with COVID-19.

However, Robert is showing what he can do when healthy so far in this young season with the White Sox off to a 4-5 start.

Starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (2-0), who allowed four runs in 5 1/3 innings on Saturday night, was helped by two nice catches by Robert. In his first year with Chicago, Clevinger is also finding out how good Robert is after playing against him while pitching for Cleveland from 2019-20.

“Some of the stuff he makes look routine is unbelievable,” Clevinger said. “The bat speaks for itself. Got strength that’s out of this world. [Pirates left-hander] Rich Hill is throwing balls 68 [mph on Friday], and he’s just flipping them 380 feet.

“That one ball he ran down in the gap today, you go, ‘Oh wow, that’s a good play, that’s a play not many people at all make.’ Those little things go a long way with the outcome of a game.”

Robert was one of six White Sox who tallied two hits as Chicago finished with 14 on Saturday night. He was joined by Tim Anderson, Andrew Benintendi, Andrew Vaughn, Yasmani Grandal and rookie Oscar Colás.

Vaughn scored four runs, and Robert and the bottom three hitters in the order -- Grandal, Colás and Elvis Andrus -- drove in two runs apiece.

Anderson and Robert form quite a dynamic duo at the top of the White Sox lineup.

“He is able to hit with a lot of power,” Anderson said of Robert. “I have one job, and that’s to get on first, and he hopefully gets me in from there. Hopefully, he can keep doing what he’s doing and keep on with the success that he’s having."