Rodon looking to change for the better for Chicago White Sox
OAKLAND, Calif. - In most major-league rotations, Carlos Rodon already would be the top lefty.
He's that good, and as a rookie last season Rodon showed why he was the No. 3 overall pick out of North Carolina State in the 2014 draft while going 9-6 with a 3.75 ERA overall and 5-2 with a 1.81 ERA and 49 strikeouts in 54⅔ innings over his final 8 starts.
Following Chris Sale and Jose Quintana - the Chicago White Sox's top two left-handed starters - Rodon makes his 2016 debut Wednesday night against the Athletics and ace starter Sonny Gray, who was scratched from Monday's season opener with food poisoning.
"He can be a top line left-handed pitcher," said Sox pitching coach Don Cooper of the 23-year-old Rodon. "A top-flight, left-handed pitcher with the physical stuff he has. But physical's not enough. You've got to be able to focus and execute, throw more strikes. In a nutshell that's what he needs, more strikes."
Even with all the hype that surrounded Rodon's arrival to the White Sox's starting rotation last May, the 6-foot-3, 235-pounder was a rookie and he was erratic.
But Rodon learned while taking his lumps and closed the season with a strong finishing kick.
Starting with his outing against Oakland on Wednesday night, look for Rodon to take the next step toward stardom. This season, he still has the plus fastball and devastating slider, and Rodon finally has a feel for the changeup.
"That's all we really worked on during spring training," Rodon said. "I threw it a little last season, but not as much as I should have. It's definitely a feel pitch and I'm comfortable throwing it now. I wouldn't say it's locked in yet, but it's getting there."
According to Brooks Baseball, less than 10 percent of Rodon's pitches were change-ups last year.
With a fastball that routinely registers 96-97 mph and a hard, biting slider, Rodon needs a softer pitch to keep hitters off balance.
"We certainly hope it (changeup) is going to become a weapon," Cooper said. "He didn't have to throw change-ups in college because he basically got everybody out with his fastball and slider. Now, a left-hander without a changeup, it's a crime, really. It's a pitch we put an awful lot of time in during spring training, and he's used it more and more."
When Rodon throws the change, or fastball, or slider, hitting the strike zone is critical. Last season, especially early, he frequently was burned by walks and high pitch counts.
"The key for him is getting ahead in the count with his first three pitches," Cooper said. "Getting them to hit the first three pitches, because the biggest column he has to improve on is the walk column. If we make them hit the first, second or third pitch, or if they don't and we're ahead in the count, there's a pretty good chance we're going to get that guy."
Rodon said he's much more comfortable and knows what to expect as he enters his second season. Now, it's time to continue making opposing hitters uncomfortable, starting with the A's.
"Pick up where we left off and try to keep going," Cooper said. "You know, he's only 139 innings into the process. He's by far not a finished product. He has much to do, much to get better at, for him to continue to grow and be the guy he sees himself being and we see himself being."