Rodon looking to build on solid rookie season with Chicago White Sox

GLENDALE, Ariz. — When he reported to his first training camp with the Chicago White Sox last spring, top pitching prospect Carlos Rodon kept a very low profile and tried to make a good impression.

Rodon is still avoiding the spotlight this year, but he is now a key part of the Sox' starting rotation after easing in as a rookie in 2015 and finishing with a flourish.

“I guess you can say I'm one year older,” said the 23-year-old Rodon. “That's about it. It's different. I'm just a little more comfortable with what I'm doing here. I'm still a young guy, getting my feet wet and just trying to get better.”

Joining the White Sox from Class AAA Charlotte late last April as a relief pitcher, Rodon made three appearances out of the bullpen before moving into the rotation.

The left-hander struggled early, but Rodon was 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 54⅔ innings over his final 8 starts.

“I looked back on it (and) it was one of the best pitching runs I had ever,” said Rodon, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft out of North Carolina State. “It was nice. Just hope I can keep it going this year and go from there.”

Rodon was 9-6 with a 3.75 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 139⅓ innings as a rookie. The Sox kept a close eye on his workload, but that should change this season.

“We're going to just go and see how he pitches,” manager Robin Ventura said. “I don't want to put a number on him. Chris (Sale) jumped it up pretty good from his first year to his second year.

“Carlos is strong enough to be counted on to go deep into games, and we'll see how that goes. That's going to dictate where he ends up at the end of the year.”

The next Rodon?

A year after the White Sox drafted Carlos Rodon on the first round, they selected Carson Fulmer, who was the No. 8 overall pick last year out of Vanderbilt.

Fulmer has the same locker Rodon had last spring, and he has the same uniform number (80).

Is Fulmer going to put on the same fast track as Rodon and start for the Sox at some point this season?

“I really don't look into too many things,” Fulmer said. “That's just kind of who I am. My job is to come to the field every day and do the job I'm supposed to do. I know they have a timeline for me. I just have to stay on that and from my point not ask too many questions.

“I don't think that's the right thing to do. Just trust the process and know they have a plan and stick by that.”

After making his professional debut with the Arizona Rookie League Sox last year, Fulmer was immediately bumped up to high Class A Winston-Salem. He pitched 22 innings and allowed 5 runs on 16 hits while striking out 25.

Spring fling:

The White Sox have posted a combined 34-45 record in Cactus League play the past three springs and gone on to have losing regular seasons.

Exhibition games typically carry little weight, but the Sox are hoping to set a winning tone this spring and carry it into the season.

“You want to win games down here,” manager Robin Ventura said. “But you want to hit well. I think even last year, I don't think we hit all that well when we were down here and I think that had a lingering effect.

“Hopefully we can get guys more at-bats early. The pitchers have done fine down here, but I think hitting, you want to be able to see a little more offensive production than we've had the last couple of years.”