Photo: Eric Canha-Imagn Images

Luis Robert Jr. Activated, Tristan Gray Optioned by White Sox

Originally posted on On Tap Sports Net | By Besnik Zekiri | Last updated Jul 8, 2025 5:42 PM ET

Less than 24 hours after joining the big-league roster, Tristan Gray heads back to Triple-A Charlotte. The Chicago White Sox announced Tuesday that they’ve activated center fielder Luis Robert Jr. from the injured list and, in a corresponding move, optioned Gray back to the minors .

Robert returns after missing time with a hamstring issue and a season that has been anything but productive. The Sox need him to start hitting—and fast—if they want any chance of flipping him for value before the trade deadline at the end of the month. So far, Robert has looked like a shadow of his former self, and the time for patience has long passed.

Prior to tonight’s game vs. Toronto, the Chicago White Sox reinstated outfielder Luis Robert Jr. from the 10-day injured list and optioned infielder Tristan Gray to Class AAA Charlotte.
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) July 8, 2025

Spin the Wheel

Gray, who Chicago just recalled to take Ryan Noda’s roster spot on Monday, didn’t appear in a game before being sent down. The 29-year-old utility infielder will return to Charlotte, where he’s posted a .842 OPS across 62 games this season.

Chris Getz has stockpiled and churned through middle infielders with a chaotic plan for how to deploy them, and Gray’s swift demotion is just the latest entry in that running bit.

Robert, for all his tools and previous flashes of brilliance, is now a walking trade deadline storyline. If he can get hot, he might net a decent return. If he doesn’t, the Sox may move on in the offseason.

What’s On Tap Next?

The White Sox once-untouchable outfielder now returns to the field carrying more than just his usual load of swing-and-miss and raw talent. This time, he’s playing for two things: his next team and his next contract.

This article first appeared on On Tap Sports Net and was syndicated with permission.

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