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Chisox have pen-to-rotation plan for prospect

 
Published April 21, 2015

CHICAGO — Carlos Rodon was watching funny YouTube videos with his girlfriend and another buddy when he got the call from the White Sox.

The wait is over for one of baseball's top pitching prospects.

Rodon was promoted from Triple-A Charlotte on Monday, completing a steady climb from No. 3 overall pick in last year's draft to the majors.

The White Sox are hoping he follows the same career path as ace Chris Sale, another tough left-hander who was a high selection in the draft and began his major-league career in the bullpen before turning into one of baseball's best starters.

"We are going to learn from our history of being able to do that with Chris and Mark Buehrle before him in terms of getting him to the rotation at some point in the not too distant future," GM Rick Hahn said.

After Rodon, 22, got the call from assistant GM Buddy Bell, he said the first call he made was to his parents.

"I called my mom and my dad answered, so he was the first person I told in my immediate family," Rodon said. "He said, 'Oh wow, that's great.' My dad's a pretty even-keeled guy. He's pretty calm just like me, he doesn't blow things up."

METS INJURIES: C Travis d'Arnaud will be in a splint for three weeks and LH reliever Jerry Blevins will be in a splint for six as they recover from fractures sustained Sunday. New York called up C Kevin Plawecki, one of their top prospects, and RH reliever Hansel Robles to replace them.

DRUG SUSPENSION: Braves LH reliever Andrew McKirahan was suspended for 80 games after a positive test for a banned substance under MLB's drug program. McKirahan, 25, was cited for Ipamorelin, which releases growth hormone.

FAN HURT: The Cubs-Pirates game was delayed 23 minutes when a fan was hit in the back of the head by a foul ball. The ball hit straight back by Chicago's Starlin Castro struck a woman whose back was turned and who was within inches of the netting. She grabbed her head then crumpled. She was taken away on a stretcher and apparently conscious.

A'S: Former Rays INF Ben Zobrist will sit out at least a couple of days after getting a cortisone shot in his sore left knee.

BREWERS: All-Star C Jonathan Lucroy broke his left toe on a foul tip and is headed to the disabled list.

TIGERS: An MRI exam on RHP Justin Verlander confirmed a right triceps strain. Verlander's return from the disabled list has been delayed by soreness in his pitching arm.