'Little setback' taps brakes on Luis Robert Jr.'s timeline for return to White Sox

Luis Robert Jr. had been trending toward getting back on the field soon as he works toward a return from the Grade 2 right hip flexor strain suffered April 5, but the All-Star center fielder had what manager Pedro Grifol called “a little setback” in his recovery process and will continue to be monitored before he begins playing in games at the Sox' complex in Arizona. “He was a little hesitant early in the week,” said general manager Chris Getz, who is with the team in St. Petersburg. “He feels pretty good, so we're going to monitor that, no one is too concerned with it, we still feel like he's going to get into game action relatively soon, get some at-bats at Arizona and join an affiliate at some point.” Two weeks ago, Getz gave an encouraging report on Robert, saying he could be back as early as mid-May. Without offering a specific timeline Wednesday, Getz said “we're not too concerned, but we want to make sure he's fully healthy before we get him in any game action.”