Levine: Carlos Rodon Enjoys First Day In The Bigs

By Bruce Levine--

(CBS) -- For Carlos Rodon, the first day in the major leagues was as surreal as he could have imagined.

A 22-year-old left-hander who was officially called up by the White Sox on Monday morning, Rodon was told he would be in the bullpen to begin his major league career.

"I will take whatever I can get," he said. "I am just happy to be here."

Rodon was the White Sox's top pick in the June amateur draft last June (third overall). He signed a $6.582 million contract last July. After a combined 36 innings in the minor leagues, Rodon received news of his call-up Sunday.

The bullpen role will be something a bit new for Rodon, who did have a successful outing in one spring training bullpen stint, striking out six batters.

"I kind of have an idea what it is like," Rodon said. "I had an outing out of the bullpen. Certainly it was a different routine, but it is doable."

Rodon will be watched closely so that he isn't overused as either a starter or relief pitcher in his first full professional season.

"There are no real restrictions on him," White Sox general manager Rick Hahn said. "Now, this is a transition, so you will not see back-to-backs initially. You will not see an inordinate workload in a given week. We are going to ease him into this. His development isn't done. This is just the next step and ideally the last step in his development."

Hahn discounted the idea that Rodon was brought up now to replace an existing member of the rotation.

"Nope -- this is about Carlos's development," Hahn insisted. "He hopefully at some point will be in the front end of the rotation. This move would have been made if we were 11-0 right now. This will be about his development."

With Rodon, it's worth watching the number of innings he pitches. The smart money is on him finding his way to the rotation by the All-Star break. The emphasis on developing his changeup will be a part of the process as he works out of the bullpen. Keeping him a part of a contending rotation and limiting the innings pitched to around 140 will be the tricky part for club officials.

"There will be a transition period for him," Hahn said. "We felt now is the time to get him here and work with (Don Cooper and staff) in order to put him in the best position to do well. We still see him as a potential long-term fixture in the rotation."

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