Leading with his play on the field — and doing so superbly as the best player on the White Sox this season — is one thing for center fielder Luis Robert Jr. But he doesn’t view himself as leadership material in the clubhouse.
At least not now. Perhaps it will take time, with Robert going through his first full season as one of the top players in the majors. And while manager Pedro Grifol has identified Robert’s determination to play 150 games this season as leadership material, Robert must view leadership as more than that.
‘‘I don’t see myself as a leader,’’ Robert said through a translator Tuesday. ‘‘I try to do my job and be on the field and do the things that we should all push to do and maybe be an example for others, but I don’t see myself as a leader.’’
In any case, there is a definite opening on the roster after veterans Lance Lynn, Lucas Giolito, Kendall Graveman and Joe Kelly were traded. It figures to be something the front office addresses during the offseason.
Asked whether there are leaders on the Sox now, Robert said, ‘‘I don’t know.’’ So there’s an opening for the job.
Grifol views veteran infielder Elvis Andrus as a leader. But Andrus, 35, is not expected to return next season.
‘‘He’s obviously been in the game a long time, knows the game, knows leadership,’’ Grifol said. ‘‘He’s got a lot of energy. He brings a lot of energy to this clubhouse every single night and to this dugout. He knows the window of this game sometimes can be small, and he appreciates and cherishes every day he comes out here and puts on a uniform. That’s good for our guys to see.’’
Robert returned to the starting lineup after missing three starts with a sprained right pinkie finger, the result of a headfirst slide last Wednesday.
‘‘I’m not 100%, but I think I can play,’’ Robert said before the game.
Robert said gripping the bat ‘‘feels good.’’
‘‘With the heat of the game, everything’s going to go well,’’ he said. ‘‘I don’t think I’m going to have any problems.’’
That was apparent when he hit his 32nd home run in the seventh inning to break a 3-3 tie. The ball traveled 422 feet.
Anderson scratched with stiff neck
Shortstop Tim Anderson was a late scratch with neck stiffness, moving Andrus to shortstop and into the leadoff spot. Zach Remillard played second base.
Anderson still is waiting on MLB’s decision after he appealed his six-game suspension for fighting the Guardians’ Jose Ramirez on Aug. 5 in Cleveland. He is declining interviews until after that.
Appeals must be heard within 10 days of the date of the appeal. There is no timeline for a decision thereafter.
Anderson is 3-for-20 in his last six games.
Sox add Swag to system
Outfielder Travis Swaggerty, a former first-round pick and top-100 prospect who was designated for assignment by the Pirates, signed a minor-league deal with the Sox.
Swaggerty, 25, dealt with injuries and hit .195/.319/.364 with one home run at two Class A levels and Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pirates’ organization before being released July 17. He was 1-for-9 in a brief major-league stint.
