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Levine: White Sox Pitching Coach Inspects Progress Of Rehabbing Carlos Rodon

By Bruce Levine--

CHICAGO (CBS) -- The White Sox really don't have much to say about the Carlos Rodon pitching plan.

The 24 -year-old Rodon has been on the shelf after injuring his left biceps in mid-March. There are no plans to get him on the mound at this time, general manager Rick Hahn on Friday.

On Monday, Rodon played catch in front of pitching coach Don Cooper during a visit to Chicago.

"He was throwing the ball firmly, he looked OK," Cooper told reporters. "Well, we have already had taken a lot of caution. He is important for us now and in the future. We wouldn't rush with him or anybody."

It was revealed in spring training that Rodon had dealt with arm fatigue from time to time in 2016, when he was on the disabled list once. The reason given at that time was a left wrist sprain that he incurred slipping coming out of the dugout. Then in spring training this year, Cooper told some media members that Rodon had some other arm issues in 2016.

Rodon was being treated ever so carefully by the team in February and didn't get into a Cactus League game until March 15. He was taken out of the rotation after that and placed on the DL to start the season. Rodon has been throwing on flat ground and playing catch in Glendale, Ariz. at the team's minor-league headquarters.

"It is tough for me to give you a time frame," manager Rick Renteria said. "His visit was to be sure everything was moving in the right direction. It is. He threw a bit ago out here today. He felt good and will continue to do his program. As soon as we know where that timeline is going, we will make sure everybody knows."

Rodon told a club official that he didn't want to talk to the media about his injury until there's a clear path toward his rehab and future throwing plans. Rodon did say he missed his teammates and the competition while doing his conditioning in Arizona.

"I can't tell you what the detail of the program is," Renteria said. "I know it involves some throwing, getting his treatments and taking care of the issue he had with his bicep. We do know it is getting better. He is moving forward in a positive manner. We are definitely sure of that."

Rodon will return to Arizona to continue his rehab when the team goes on its next road trip Wednesday.

Putnam dealing with elbow soreness

Reliever Zach Putnam is dealing with a sore right elbow. The discomfort first flared up on him Saturday evening.

Putnam is off to a great start this season, with nine strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings. He had season-ending elbow surgery last August to remove bone fragments in the same elbow.

"We don't have a lot of concrete information right now," Putnam said. "I am going to try to cool down a bit, but that doesn't mean I am necessarily unavailable. I am just going to try and save some bullets as best as I can."

Putnam confirmed an X-ray and other scans were taken on the elbow the last two days. There was no structural damage detected, he said.

Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.

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