Carlos Rodón's second start of the 2020 season started better than his first. But it didn't even last as long as the 3.2 innings he logged in a losing effort last week in Cleveland.
Rodón, just returned to the major league mound after recovering from Tommy John surgery, was removed from the White Sox game Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers after two innings. Relief pitcher Matt Foster started the bottom of the third.
As of this writing, there was no word on why Rodón was lifted. His velocity was down significantly, with a fastball clocked in the upper 80s.
Carlos Rodón's velocity ... isn't good. pic.twitter.com/9a6ajDW6lB
— Jim Margalus (@SoxMachine) August 4, 2020
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Rodón has been the victim of a pair of significant arm injuries in recent years. He made just a dozen starts in 2017, requiring shoulder surgery at the end of that season. He returned in the middle of the 2018 season but was injured again by May 2019, requiring Tommy John surgery.
Baseball's months-long layoff earlier this year allowed Rodón time to recover and be a full-season option for the White Sox instead of the midseason addition he would have been in a normal season. He made the White Sox starting rotation out of "Summer Camp" and was emotional when discussing his road back from numerous arm injuries.
"Getting hurt is not a thing that anyone wants to do, any athlete. That's not our goal. That's the last thing you think about when you get drafted or you become a professional athlete," he said last month. "But sometimes, it doesn't quite go your way.
"And to be honest, I never had to deal with much adversity growing up. I was fortunate. My parents provided everything for me. I had a great childhood. Played baseball through all of high school, got drafted out of high school, didn't sign, became a great pitcher at NC State and waltzed into the big leagues.
"Through my time with the White Sox, we've had a few ups and downs, and that's kind of where I've had to learn how to mature and I think I've grown a lot through them. It hasn't been easy, especially this one (the Tommy John surgery) coming off a shoulder (surgery). Honestly, having my baby girl, Willow, kind of got me through the TJ. And it's been a ride, man."
Rodón's early departure Monday wasn't dissimilar from that of Reynaldo López, who last just two outs in his first start of the 2020 season a little more than a week ago. López was placed on the injured list last Monday with shoulder soreness. Jimmy Lambert, who also just returned from Tommy John surgery, was placed on the injured list with a forearm strain after just a pair of relief outings. He was moved to the 45-day injured list Monday.
Pitchers around baseball have been dealing with a large number of injuries following the brief, three-week ramp up to Opening Day.
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Carlos Rodn leaves White Sox game vs. Brewers after just two innings originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
