Frank Thomas telling a TV audience he got the word from general manager Rick Hahn that Luis Robert likely won’t be a September call-up created enough of a stir to prompt a response from the White Sox on Thursday.
“To reiterate Rick [Hahn] and [manager] Rick [Renteria’s] previous statements: No decisions have been made yet on September call-ups,” a Sox spokesperson said via email during the team’s game against the Twins. “We are going to wait until [Class AAA] Charlotte finishes its season before final decisions are made.”
There has been no indication or speculation in recent weeks, however, that Robert, 22, despite tearing up the minor leagues with player-of-the-year numbers, was a candidate to join the Sox when rosters can expand Sunday.
Left fielder Eloy Jimenez was in a similar situation last year, wasn’t called up in September and was expected to be promoted in April.
When he signed a six-year, $43 million contract during spring training, Jimenez made the Opening Day roster.
Thomas, who does pregame and postgame work for NBC Sports Chicago, spoke to Hahn on the field before the game. He said Hahn told him the Sox were leaning toward “no” on a call-up, backing up what he said last week that any such decision would be based on what is “best for the long-term health of the organization” and that there were “certainly some elements of his game that they’re still fine-tuning, still working on.”
Broadcast news
With play-by-play man Jason Benetti having college football commitments with ESPN, Tom Paciorek will sit alongside Steve Stone on Friday and Saturday in Atlanta, and Chuck Swirsky will work with Stone next Friday and Saturday at home.
Four hits for Abreu
Jose Abreu had his second four-hit game. He hit two doubles, giving him 212 for his career, the eighth-most in the majors since 2014, his first season. He’s batting .360 in August with six home runs, 10 doubles and 28 RBI.
This and that
The Sox were swept by the Twins for the third time in their last six series. They were 5-11 against the Twins this season and were outscored 101-51.
† Yolmer Sanchez (2-for-4, RBI, run) reached base for the 16th consecutive game, and Jimenez (2-for-4, RBI, run) had his 22nd multihit game.
