Luis Robert Jr. returns to a smattering of boos — and a White Sox team that has thrived without him

From the time he was signed as a lauded prospect in 2017 to winning a Gold Glove as a rookie for a seemingly ascendant playoff team in 2020 to the unfortunate role of being the most talented player on three consecutive 100-plus-loss teams, Luis Robert Jr. was always central to the White Sox ‘‘One of the guys I was really excited to manage, getting this job,’’ manager Will Venable said. On Friday, Robert returned through the visitors’ entrance to Rate Field — to Sox teammates who view him warmly…