The White Sox put Carlos Rodón on the 10-day injured list with left elbow inflammation Thursday, a day after the left-hander failed to complete four innings in his second consecutive poor start, and his outlook for the rest of the season and perhaps beyond did not look good.
General manager Rick Hahn expressed uncertainty over what will happen with Rodon from here, including the potential for the pitcher to undergo season ending Tommy John surgery.
Hahn said that Rodon, who has posted a 3-2 record with a 5.19 ERA and 46 strikeouts over seven starts in 2019, has an edema — which is blood — in the flexor mass muscle of his throwing elbow.
“That’s obviously not a good thing,” Hahn said. “Trying to figure out the cause of that is what ultimately will dictate the course of action. We don’t have a specific, definitive plan in place today because there will followup studies and consultations with second opinion doctors.
“He’s going to be down for a while.”
Asked if Tommy John surgery is a possibility, Hahn said “everything is on the table.”
Rodon, 26, underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left shoulder in September 2017 and missed the first two months of the 2018 season. He made 20 starts last year and went 6-8 with a 4.18 ERA.
“It’s super frustrating,” Rodon said. “It’s something that was not in anyone’s control, it’s no one’s fault. Things like this happen. Second time now something like this happens, there’s not much you can do. You just have to roll with it.
“It it’s Tommy John, so be it,” Rodon said.
Rodon, a No. 3 overall draft pick in 2014, has been looked on as the staff ace in the third year of the Sox rebuild, and a significant part of the Sox’ future rotation. He made his first Opening Day start this season at Kansas City.
He pitched to a 2.89 ERA in his first five starts, and was given six days rest before his next start against the Tigers April 26. In that one, he allowed eight runs on nine hits over three innings. Against the Orioles Thursday, he allowed three runs in 3 2/3 innings before manager Rick Renteria pulled him after 89 pitches.
Hahn said Dylan Covey will take Rodon’s place in the starting rotation, which had a poor April from top to bottom. Only Manny Banuelos, who made two starts, has an ERA under under 5.00 among Sox starters.
