Luis Robert Jr. and Yoán Moncada leave for Taiwan to have an ‘incredible experience’ with Team Cuba in WBC

GLENDALE, Ariz. — Luis Robert Jr. crushed a third-inning pitch to center field Tuesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, with the ball traveling more than 410 feet.

But since it didn’t clear the high wall, Robert had to stop at second with a double.

“That’s a bomb,” Chicago White Sox manager Pedro Grifol said of the center fielder’s hit the next day.

The Sox were back at Salt River Fields at Talking Stick in Scottsdale, Ariz., on Thursday, this time facing the Colorado Rockies. But they were without Robert and third baseman Yoán Moncada, who were traveling to Taichung, Taiwan, to participate in the World Baseball Classic for Team Cuba.

“I’m pretty sure it’s going to be an incredible experience,” Robert said through an interpreter Wednesday. “It was something I was dreaming about since I was a kid when I watched the Cuban national team. It was special just seeing the team playing and now playing in it will be special for me.”

Moncada anticipates the opportunity will be “a surreal experience”.

“It’s going to be one of the best experiences I’m going to have in my life,” Moncada said through an interpreter Wednesday, “and I’m just ready to take full advantage of it.”

Grifol has liked what he’s seen from the duo this spring, praising Moncada for “the way he goes about his business and attention to detail and his work with (infield coach) Eddie (Rodríguez) and his work in the cages.”

Grifol said he’s also been “really impressed” with Robert.

“I told him (Wednesday) the last time I saw somebody work like that in the outfield was a nine-time Gold Glover in Alex Gordon (with the Kansas City Royals), the way he prepares, the way he gets after it,” Grifol said.

“This guy loves to work. When you have that type of work ethic and that kind of talent, there’s no telling what can come out of that.”

Echoing a similar statement from earlier this spring, Grifol added of Robert, “I think he’s an MVP candidate.”

“When I ask our coaches how was the sliding today? And the first name that pops up is Luis Robert,” Grifol said. “He really accelerates, he accelerates through the slide.

“This guy has got incredible talent and his attention to detail is off the chart. That combination is a recipe for greatness. He’s still young, too, so I think we’re going to see some great things coming out of him.”

Robert and Moncada are two of eight Sox players on WBC rosters, with Cuba’s portion of pool play running March 8-13. Pool play for Team USA (Lance Lynn, Kendall Graveman and Tim Anderson) goes March 11-15 in Phoenix. Players representing the Dominican Republic (Eloy Jiménez), Puerto Rico (Nicholas Padilla) and Venezuela (José Ruiz) have pool play March 11-15 in Miami.

If Team Cuba advances, their quarterfinals in Tokyo would take place March 15-16.

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Robert said trash talking in the Sox clubhouse has been kept to a minimum.

“Eloy is always messing around with people,” Robert joked. “He’s been trashing talking with the guys who are playing with Team USA but for us no, we’re going to be in the other part of the world, not competing against each other unless we advance.

“I feel pretty good. I’m ready to play nine innings, doing my best, 100%. The results? We’ll see what happens.”

This is the first time major leaguers are playing on Team Cuba in the event. Robert and Moncada are thrilled to have the chance to represent their country together.

“That’s one of the things that’s going to make this experience even more special,” Moncada said of teaming with Robert.

The two were together in 2016 for the Pan American U-18 Cuban National Team in Taipei, Taiwan. And now they’ll share an international stage again.

“There’s a lot of people from my hometown (Cienfuegos) really happy and excited to see me play and represent the Cuban national team,” Moncada said. “This wasn’t just a dream for me, but for those people too. I’m pretty sure I’m going to make a bunch of people happy and they’re going to be supporting us and supporting me.”