Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune/TNS/Sipa USA

White Sox sign top prospect Luis Robert to six-year, $50M deal

Originally posted on Sportsnaut | By Matt Johnson | Last updated 1/2/20

The Chicago White Sox have reached agreement on a long-term contract extension with top prospect Luis Robert, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale and ESPN's Jeff Passan.

The #Whitesox have reached a tentative agreement on a long-term contract extension with prized prospect Luis Robert. He likely will be on the opening-day roster
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) January 2, 2020

Outfielder Luis Robert and the Chicago White Sox are in agreement on a six-year, $50 million contract that includes two club options, sources familiar with the deal tell ESPN.

Robert will begin the season in Chicago. No service-time manipulation necessary. Sox are gonna be good.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 2, 2020

Robert emerged as one of the best prospects in baseball in 2019 thanks to an incredible season in the minors. He started at the High-A level and hit eight home runs with eight stolen bases and a .453/.512/.930 slash line in 19 games.

After receiving a promotion to the Double-A level, Robert continued to crush baseballs. The center fielder hit eight homers and swiped 21 bases with a .314/.362/.518 slash line in 56 games.

Robert’s domination at both levels led to his promotion to Triple-A Charlotte in July. He crushed a grand slam in his first game and then went on to post a .297/.341/.634 line with 16 home runs and seven stolen bases in 47 games.

Coming off a season with a combined 32 home runs, 92 RBI and 36 stolen bases, Robert proved to the White Sox that he was ready for a spot in the MLB club in 2020. Now that he is under contract and not limited by potential service-time manipulation, he should be in center field for the White Sox on Opening Day.

This article first appeared on Sportsnaut and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: