As the White Sox continue their depressing skid against the Houston Astros there is cause for optimism as several prospects and big leaguers build their way off the DL.
Carlos Rodon has suffered consecutive seasons with arm trouble resulting in shoulder surgery over the winter. Rodon snuck in the back door at Guaranteed Rate Field on Friday night and addressed the media and his recovery head-on.
“It is tough, not starting the season off with the boys,” Rodon told the media on Friday. “It’s definitely frustrating. No one likes to be injured, for the team and for the fans. … Sometimes it’s part of the process, as dumb as that sounds. It really is true. It’s a different kind of feeling this year knowing more so what’s going on.”
The southpaw’s frustration has been evident since last season when he was sidelined with biceps bursitis that pestered him even after returning to the rotation. As a competitor, Rodon’s chagrin is understandable and the fact that he has come to terms with the process of healing demonstrates maturity. Based on Rodon’s bulldog mentality if the White Sox medical staff would clear him to play today he’d probably run straight to the mound, but Rick Hahn answered the questions about timelines.
“Time tables’s the same as it’s always been,” Rick Hahn told the media. “I think the earliest he can come back is May, early June. I think the earliest he can come back is May 28 because we put him on the 60-day, so it’ll be after that date.”
According to Hahn, Rodon will throw a side or two while in Chicago for Don Cooper and Curt Hasler and then head back to Glendale, Arizona to make a few starts in extended Spring Training. If everything goes smoothly, Rodon could start the minor-league portion of his rehab assignments by mid-May.
Alec Hansen
Hahn also addressed Alec Hansen’s recovery from forearm muscular discomfort. Hanson led the minor leagues in strikeouts last season and had elevated his stock among White Sox prospects after imploding before the 2016 draft. “He’s on a throwing program in Arizona,” Hahn said during a media scrum before Friday’s game. “He’s obviously behind Carlos in that he’s not ready to start pitching in extended games.”
Considering Hanson’s forearm infirmity was supposed to be a minor setback, it is concerning his return has taken so long. However, Hahn is not too concerned. “There is no worry,” Hahn explained. “This is a forearm muscle issue similar to something he apparently went through previously in high school. At least you have a player who’s comfortable knowing where he’s at and knowing that he’s been able to bounce back from this before.”
With this extended setback, Hanson may not reach his assignment at Double-A until mid-summer. This should give White Sox fans pause because Hanson was just settling into his mechanics, something not altogether simple for a man of his physical stature. Hanson is a long six-foot-eight with lanky limbs that are difficult to tame. Such a long period of rest could erode some of the progress he’s made.
Luis Robert will be reevaluated by the team physician in Chicago next week and soon thereafter report to extended Spring Training. Robert had a pin removed from his hand earlier in April and has spent time rehabbing with the Winston-Salem Dash, his intended destination once fully recovered.
Fans are in a frenzy to see the White Sox 20-year-old phenom from Cuba who signed with the Southsiders last summer. When Robert joins the Dash it will be his professional debut in the U.S.
