MINNEAPOLIS -- The White Sox announced Thursday that they have purchased right-hander Chris Volstad's contract from Triple-A Charlotte. The team also moved left-hander Carlos Rodon to the 60-day disabled list to clear a spot for Volstad on its 40-man roster, which returns to 40.
The 31-year Volstad takes righty Gregory Infante's spot, after the White Sox optioned Infante to Charlotte postgame on Wednesday. Volstad was excellent in Spring Training for Chicago, throwing 14 scoreless innings and allowing three hits, while pairing nine strikeouts with one walk. In the White Sox 4-0 loss Thursday, he tossed one scoreless inning, allowing a hit and a walk against one strikeout.
"I threw well and finished strong up here last season," Volstad said. "Carried over into Spring Training and did what I could. Tried to get better each day and build and improve off of what I would be doing. Focus in on that, and it takes the pressure off of a lot of other things. Just keep my head down and keep going."
Volstad was efficient in Cactus League action, averaging just 4.6 pitchers per inning. In his lone start for Charlotte so far this season, he allowed five runs over 4 2/3 innings. Volstad is entering his ninth Major League season, having compiled a 36-53 record and a 4.92 ERA over 725 innings. He can pitch in relief or spot-start for the White Sox.
"Having been around a little bit longer, I guess you do what you need to do to get ready for any situation," Volstad said. "Just focusing in on pitching. I went to Triple-A and started a game down there. So I'm kind of built up for multiple innings, if needed. Just whatever situation may come up, I'll be ready to go."
"He gives us flexibility to use him for multiple innings," White Sox manager Rick Renteria said. "He generates a lot of groundballs when we use him. He did a lot this spring. He did a lot for us last season. He gives me the flexibility to use him in multiple positions of the game."
Rodon, 25, is recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder that brought his 2017 season to an end last September and left him out of action for six to eight months. He did not pitch in Spring Training and was not expected to join the White Sox until late May or early June at the earliest, so now being eligible for reinstatement from the disabled list as early as May 28 doesn't signal a change in his recovery.