GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Dealing with a stomach bug stood as the biggest problem for Carlos Rodon during his 35-pitch bullpen session Friday, marking his first effort off the mound during Spring Training.
"We grinded through and got it done, so it's good," said Rodon, who met with the media Saturday morning. "It was good to finally be back up there again. We had to stay on track. We didn't want to miss yesterday, so we had to grind it out."
• Spring Training info
Rodon has been a topic of Spring Training conversation because of the gradual manner in which the team has worked him into action. At the outset, Rodon wasn't even throwing balls to bases during fielding practice.
Despite some recent discussion concerning arm fatigue Rodon dealt with in '16, this plan was designed from the start to help maximize Rodon's regular-season workload as he pushes toward 200 innings.
"It happens to most young pitchers, I would believe, getting used to preparing every five days, 32 starts and 200 innings," said Rodon of the arm fatigue. "It's not an easy job, so it's something you need to get acclimated to, and I think we're doing a good job of it right now."
Rodon's next bullpen session is scheduled for Sunday.

Quintana competing for more than fun
Jose Quintana departs for World Baseball Classic competition Monday, and he's excited to be part of Colombia's first qualification for the competition. But the White Sox ace, who threw 60 pitches during a simulated game Friday in preparation, believes Colombia can do more than have fun, with himself and Julio Teheran as part of the pitching staff.
"Absolutely, absolutely. We have a good chance," said Quintana, with Colombia competing with USA, Canada and the Dominican Republic in its pool. "We need to make small things in the game. Pitch good and play good defense. That is the point for making the second round for us."
Quintana expects a strong family contingent with him in Miami.
Covey fighting for a job
Of the six outs recorded by Dylan Covey during a 3-1 White Sox victory over the Padres on Friday, four came via the groundout.
"In talking to [White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper], we were looking for him to work down in the zone and he did," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He did a nice job."
Covey, a Rule 5 Draft selection taken by the White Sox from the Oakland Minor League system, has made all but one of his Minor League appearances as a starter. He also knows his best chance to break camp with the organization will be out of the bullpen.
"Obviously I'm here to try to make the team," Covey said. "If I don't make the team I go back to the situation I was in before. Just gotta go out and do my best every time and hopefully my actions prove to them that I'm worth the pick they used to get me."
Third to first
• Matt Thornton, who pitched for the White Sox from 2006-13, served as an analyst on the team's video webcast Saturday.
• Renteria hasn't named an Opening Day starter at this point.