MINNEAPOLIS -- Carlos Rodón has appeared in 93 career games for the White Sox, 90 of which have been as a starter. That starting role is what the 26-year-old plans on coming back to after working his way back from Tommy John surgery for a return in 2020, a point made vehemently by the upbeat southpaw on Friday at Target Field.

“One hundred percent. That’s who I am. I’m a starter. I’m a horse,” said Rodon after joining the team in Minnesota. “I’ll eat the innings. That’s my job.

“Not the bullpen. If that’s what you are wondering. Let’s put that all out there. I’m a starter.”

General manager Rick Hahn agreed with Rodon’s assessment when he was asked recently about the pitcher’s future. Rodon’s largest single-season workload came during the 2016 season, when he made 28 starts and threw 165 innings.

He had hoped to cruise past that total in 2019, as he was fully recovered from shoulder surgery performed by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in September 2017. But instead, ElAttrache became his second opinion on the elbow ligament issue and eventually performed the Tommy John surgery.

“They say the percentages on the elbow on the Tommy John surgery is 92 percent. The shoulder was 75 percent,” Rodon said. “I would say the percentages are on my side after the first one. There’s been so many guys in this game who have had Tommy John in the last 10 years that it’s almost turned into like a normal thing for any pitcher especially a power arm.

“I’ve gone through a rehab before, and maybe this one is just extended a little longer, a few months longer than the one I had the time before. It’s just check the boxes, man.

“It’s tough. Finally going to have a full year back. One of my goals was trying to hit the 200-inning mark, and having that cut short in the first month, it’s pretty disappointing. I would say frustrating is a good word for it.”

Banuelos to start Saturday

The White Sox starter for Saturday is still listed as TBA, but Manny Banuelos should get the call barring something unexpected.

“All things being equal, it’s going to end up being Manny,” White Sox manager Rick Renteria said.

Banuelos last pitched on May 14 in Cleveland, when he left the game due to a shoulder strain in the fifth and was placed on the injured list the next day.

“I don’t feel anything in my shoulder,” Banuelos said. “I feel healthy. I threw a side and I feel really good. I’m ready for tomorrow.”

More praise for Giolito

High praise continued coming in for Lucas Giolito after throwing his second straight complete game on Thursday in Houston and his first career shutout against one of baseball’s top teams. Giolito is 5-0 with a 1.98 ERA, .188 opponents' average against, 1.00 WHIP, 47 strikeouts and just two home runs allowed over his last seven starts, spanning 41 innings.

“It was really fun to watch him pitch yesterday,” said Rodon, who watched Giolito from home.

“Since Day One of Spring Training, as soon as you saw him get on the mound, the first side he had, you could see there was a difference in No. 1 -- delivery,” Renteria said. “But you could also see and continue to see a very confident young man who feels good about where he's at. He understands what he's doing.”

Hamilton to the IL

Ian Hamilton, the White Sox No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was placed on the injured list retroactive to May 22 by Triple-A Charlotte. Hamilton is 0-2 with a 9.92 ERA in 16 games with the Knights.

He said it

“It’s always good to get a second opinion. We had to get all our ducks in a row, but when the doctor tells you, 'You need to come here and sit down,' you kind of know what’s going on.” -- Rodon, on the Tommy John surgery