Chicago White Sox: 3 surprising All-Star candidates

Carlos Rodón

Carlos Rodon has been one of the best starting pitchers on the Chicago White Sox.

If Carlos Rodón does not make his first All-Star appearance, there would clearly be something wrong with the selection process. From Designated For Assignment to a Cy Young candidate today, he is not only an all-star but a strong candidate to start the Summer Classic.

Through nine starts this season, 54.2 innings, Rodón is on his way to putting up career-best numbers in nearly every category. The strikeouts are up, the walks are down, the ERA is low, and the WHIP is mind-boggling. What more can be said about Carlos Rodón’s season so far?

Recovering from past injuries, Rodón is finally at 100 percent and he is showing what he is capable of at that level. We have seen glimpses of this dominance through small sample sizes and hot streaks but his progress was always interrupted by injury.

Through his first five starts in 2019, he was showing signs of finally breaking out. In those 28 innings, Rodón struck out 35 and walked only 12 with a 2.89 ERA. His opponents had an OPS of .529 and a batting average of .183. Unfortunately, he allowed 11 earned runs in his next two starts. Tommy John’s surgery followed.

A healthy Rodón not only has ace stuff but is essential to a World Series contending team like the White Sox. If that does not make his case for all-star, his no-no might help straighten things out.