White Sox’ Eloy Jimenez compares prospect Luis Robert to Mike Trout

Eloy Jimenez caused a bit of a stir when he compared Luis Robert to Mike Trout at SoxFest on Friday.

Trout is generally regarded as the best player in baseball and one of the best all time. Robert, the No. 2 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America, hasn’t played in the majors yet, so that’s saying a lot.

Even Jimenez knows it sounds like a stretch.

“Some people are going to call me crazy, but [Robert] is going to be the next Mike Trout,” Jimenez said. “Because he has five tools, and he plays hard like Mike Trout.”

Talk about raising the bar for a 22-year-old. All Robert wants to achieve is a Rookie of the Year Award and championship in his first season.

Say this for the young White Sox: They’re thinking big.

Jimenez already knows the pressure Robert will feel. He went through it last year when he signed a multimillion contract before playing in a major-league game.

“First year, [big] contract, you play on Opening Day, and it’s going to be a little tough for him,” Jimenez said. “Pitching is better at this level. I was anxious, and he will be, too.”

The fleet and rangy Robert will patrol center field between Nomar Mazara in right and Jimenez in left, leaving him lots of room to cover. Jimenez’s lacking defense will be a talking point, one he is trying to quiet with work on his first step, among other things. He made it clear he doesn’t want to be a designated hitter with a quote running a close second to the Robert/Trout comparison.

“No, [bleep] that!” he said.

Nearby, Robert was shrugging off what others are saying about him.

“I try not to pay attention,” he said. “I’m going to do my best every single day and try to get good results, and if for whatever reason I don’t get the results that I’m hoping for, it won’t be for lack of effort.”

Farquhar’s new career

Danny Farquhar, who retired from pitching last August after attempting a comeback from a life-threatening brain aneurysm, spent this winter traveling with his wife and kids to various destinations.

At SoxFest, Farquhar said he’s back in baseball mode as he prepares for his first season as the pitching coach for advanced Class A Winston-Salem.

“I’m excited,” Farquhar said of his new job. “Last year, I was a helper pitching coach at [Class AA] Birmingham, and this year I get to actually run a pitching staff and make some decisions and talk to guys, and I’m excited for the opportunity.”

This and that

Left-hander Carlos Rodon is three-fourths of the way through Tommy John rehab with an estimated return between mid-July and August, general manager Rick Hahn said.

u Right-hander Dane Dunning (Tommy John surgery) could be with an affiliate by June.

u Lucas Giolito and Gio Gonzalez did not attend because of the flu. Broadcaster Ken Harrelson also was under the weather and did not attend.

u The first SoxFest at McCormick Place brought the largest first-day (sellout) crowd to the event in 10 years, the Sox said.

“There’s a different vibe in the air,” right-hander Evan Marshall said.

Contributing: Madeline Kenney