GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Here are three takeaways from White Sox Cactus League action Thursday at Camelback Ranch.

Rodón returns
If Eloy Jiménez ever has homered against Carlos Rodón, it had to be during an intrasquad game when they were teammates with the White Sox. But times have changed for the left-handed hurler, who was one of the most dominant starters in the game during his 2021 season in Chicago.

Rodón made his first start for the Giants during a 9-6 defeat of the White Sox, facing the only other team he had known during his seven seasons in the Majors. He struck out four over 2 2/3 innings but got touched up for Jiménez’s long home run to center in the second, leading to a laugh from the veteran pitcher.

“Hey, man, playing the game. Changeup right there and he smoked it to center. Lot of power,” Rodón said. “It was cool. A couple chirps.

“They’re all pacing over there and smiling, and you can’t help but grin. It’s just fun, man. Baseball is such a special game, because you make so many relationships.”

White Sox manager Tony La Russa spoke pregame of how he was glad Rodón ended up in the National League via a two-year, $44 million deal so he can root for him. Rodón posted a 13-5 record with a 2.37 ERA and 185 strikeouts over 132 2/3 innings last year, which included a no-hitter against Cleveland.

But the White Sox did not extend a qualifying offer to Rodón, and he eventually moved as a free agent to the Bay Area.

“I get it, it’s baseball. As a kid, you don’t understand. You’re just like, ‘I just want to play baseball,’” Rodón said. “Then you start understanding the business when you get into professional baseball.

“There’s only so much you can do. It’s not like the Sox didn’t want me on their team. The Sox wanted me, and I gladly would’ve come back, but sometimes you have to explore other options.”

Michael Kopech theoretically will replace Rodón in the rotation.

“Kopech is going to be very, very good for a very long time,” Rodón said.

López sees great success on the mound
The line drive Austin Slate hit back to Reynaldo López in the first inning might have had a different, more painful result if it was launched last season at this time.

López made the catch near his head and doubled off Lamonte Wade Jr. at first base. López viewed that baseball clearly thanks to a crosslinking procedure last May to correct an issue called keratoconus in his corneas.

“Contact lenses,” said a smiling López, referring to the glass lenses he wears permanently. “That has helped me a lot.

“You could see today. That line drive, I saw it like in slow motion. Without the contacts, it would be a different story.”

In his two innings, López allowed one run on two hits with one walk and no strikeouts. The right-hander is throwing with greater velocity, especially compared to the high-80 mph offerings he featured last Spring Training, and he's ready for whatever role the White Sox envision.

“Honestly, the main focus right now is just to try to stay healthy,” said López through interpreter Billy Russo. “I don’t care if I have to pitch out of the bullpen or as a starter. I just want to stay healthy and do my job and help this team.”

Mendick working behind the plate
Danny Mendick was crouched in the batting cages Wednesday, after morning workouts, taking pitches as a catcher from a machine. Mendick, 28, has played every position but first base and catcher, and he’s getting prepared as the team’s emergency backstop.

“I do it once a day,” Mendick said. “Do a little receiving, just because last year, the way everything went, we had that one incident where Yas [Grandal] got hurt in the first inning. And then Zack [Collins] is the backup, and it was like, ‘Who is going to be the backup?’ It was, ‘Mendick, you are.’ I wanted to be able to be prepared.

“Just try to catch it, not try to do too much. Catch it, stick it and I just want to be able to catch the ball those guys are throwing.”

Mendick views his catching work much like practicing bunting, as the daily routine helps him get comfortable.

“If it ever happens, it happens,” Mendick said. “Don’t get me wrong; I’m not saying I’m going to be a starter. But if it happens, I’ll be prepared. I’ll be ready to go.”