Rodon's return date to Chicago White Sox remains a mystery
Throwing on flat ground in the outfield at Guaranteed Rate Field on Monday afternoon, Carlos Rodon appeared to be the picture of perfect health.
Was the look deceiving?
It's tough to tell, considering Rodon declined to talk to the media. On the disabled list with left-biceps bursitis, the Chicago White Sox's 24-year-old starting pitcher said he didn't want to be a distraction.
The season to date has not been pleasant for Rodon, who is viewed as the Sox's No. 1 or 2 starter of the future.
When spring training started, Rodon wasn't even playing catch while the rest of the White Sox's pitching staff was throwing batting practice and getting ready for the exhibition season.
The reason? The Sox said it was to make sure Rodon was fresh for the long regular season. Rodon insisted he was 100 percent healthy.
After easing into spring, Rodon pitched in one Cactus League game, on March 19.
Well over a month later, he has yet to return to the mound.
For what it's worth, Rodon appeared to be fine in Monday's abbreviated throwing session.
"He looked like he played catch good," White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said. "His throwing program is progressing."
What exactly is Rodon's throwing program?
"I can't tell you in detail what the program is," Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "I know it involves throwing and making sure he's getting treatments and making sure it's taken care of, the issue he had with his biceps. We know it's getting better."
Rodon is scheduled to head back to extended spring training in Arizona later this week and resume his throwing program. Before he can be sent on an extended minor-league rehab assignment, he'll have to be able to get up on a mound.
"I'm not sure what the sort of schedule is for him," Cooper said. "I just came out to watch him today. I hadn't seen him throw since spring training. The ball looked fine. Listen, to a large degree what did he do? He played catch. But he played firm catch and he looked OK."
With the White Sox in rebuild mode and not expected to contend for the next few seasons, it makes sense to let Rodon gradually work his way back to the rotation.
"We've already taken a lot of caution," Cooper said. "He's important to us now and in the future. We wouldn't rush with him or anybody."
In spring training, Cooper said Rodon was dealing with some similar discomfort last season.
"He's frustrated," Cooper said. "He wants to get through this, through all of it. We are just there to try to make sure he's doing things right and there's progression."