Rodon sets off on pro career with rookie White Sox

CHICAGO -- Carlos Rodon, the White Sox top pick in the 2014 First-Year Player Draft and the third pick overall, traveled to Arizona on Friday to begin his professional career with the Rookie League White Sox. Rodon, much like Chris Sale in 2010, will pitch his first season out of the bullpen and after a side session Saturday, the left-hander should make his debut with one inning of relief early next week.

"The early reports from the first few sidelines he has done in Winston-Salem over the past week were very positive," said White Sox general manager Rick Hahn. "I'm not quite sure what his regimen was over the two months, but he was good to go.

"He hasn't thrown a pitch in anger since May 16, so we are not going to rush this thing. It will take a little while to build back that arm strength. Once he gets going, we'll respond based on how he feels and how he's performing."

Rodon will make a couple of appearances with Arizona and then return to Class A Winston-Salem to be activated by the Dash. Hahn was pleased to get a top-of-the-rotation type pitcher he had targeted for close to a year as the club's top pick and was equally pleased with an overall Draft class that included Rodon, right-handed pitcher Spencer Adams and left-handed pitcher Jace Fry.

"We were pleasantly surprised that each of the guys we took in the first three rounds were still available," Hahn said. "And obviously we were able to get [30 of 31] signed and get them out and going.

"Proof comes over the coming years how these guys develop and fulfill their potential. But certainly Draft day we were excited and now that everyone is in the fold and out starting their pro career, we remain very optimistic about the future."