White Sox starter Rodon says he's ready to be workhorse
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Carlos Rodon appeared to be in perfect health Tuesday as White Sox pitchers and catchers went through their first workout of spring training.
“Everything's normal,” Rodon said. “Everything's good.”
But everything is different with the Sox, and that likely explains Rodon's unusual inactivity.
The left-handed starting pitcher didn't even play catch on Tuesday, he is not scheduled to throw until Friday and both general manager Rick Hahn and manager Rick Renteria stammered when asked if Rodon is healthy.
“Not right now,” Renteria said when asked if about Rodon has any physical issues. “Unless you guys know something I don't know.”
It appears the White Sox are intent on easing Rodon into a long spring training, which is five days longer this year due to the World Baseball Classic.
With Chris Sale already traded and Jose Quintana likely to be moved soon, the Sox are going to need the remaining rotation to eat up innings. In his first full season in the major leagues last year, Rodon threw 165 innings.
“I think it's time,” Rodon said about evolving into a workhorse. “I want to be one of those guys like Quintana and Sale. I'm expected to do that, and hopefully I'll live up to that.”
On the mend:
New center fielder Charlie Tilson is recovered from a torn left hamstring that he suffered in his first game with the White Sox last season after coming over in a trade from the Cardinals.
But when Cactus League play opens on Feb. 25, Tilson isn't expecting to be completely ready to go.
“I'm out here participating every day,” said Tilson, who has been traveling between his off-season home in north suburban Wilmette and Arizona since December. “The next step for me is to get to game speed. It's a work in progress. I think I'm definitely close and getting better every day, for sure.”
First look:
Pitchers and catchers had their first workout on Tuesday, and position players like Tim Anderson, Yoan Moncada, Charlie Tilson and Matt Davidson also checked in early. New manager Rick Renteria had a morning meeting before the Sox hit the back fields for workouts.
“I just covered for us to try to stay disciplined, focus in our work, go out there and have fun,” Renteria said. “It's a very difficult game. And then just get after it. Probably nothing new than any other manager has ever said to their players. It's probably the same thing. It's not redundant. I think it's something we always have to say and speak of and I thought it was a good meeting.”
Forever young:
General manager Rick Hahn didn't completely rule out adding a veteran player as the season unfolds, but the Sox are in the early stages of a youth movement and not likely to stray from that course.
“I think we want to give the guys that are here the opportunity to show what they can do,” Hahn said. “If there's injury or some other unforeseen issue, underperformance along those lines, then sure, we'll certainly look at potential ways to augment this roster. But as we sit here today and we're trying to build for the future, I think giving young players the opportunity to show what they can do at the big-league level will serve us better in the long run.”