Carlos Rodon inches forward after second BP session

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GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Carlos Rodon threw 48 pitches over three batting practice sessions on Saturday as the left-hander continues to slowly build his way toward his first Cactus League start of 2017.

The 24-year-old Rodon, who is in line to start around the fifth game of the regular season, is more concentrated on building up his arm strength and hitting his spots right now rather than when he appears in his first Cactus League game. Rodon previously threw 40 pitches in two batting practice sessions on Wednesday.

"He looked good," manager Rick Renteria said. "Did a nice bit of work out there."  

What Rodon wants to see next is hitting his spots with 60 or 70 percent of his pitches -- for example, six out of 10 fastballs on the outside corner -- and once he gets to the point where he's consistently doing that, he'll look to get into a game.

Most likely, Rodon will pitch in a simulated game sometime early next week. 
 
The White Sox have exercised caution this spring with Rodon, who experienced fatigue in 2016 and will be expected to shoulder a larger workload in 2017 with Chris Sale shipped off to Boston. If a Jose Quintana trade were to materialize at some point between now and the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline, Rodon would assume a role as the team's top starter, even if he'll begin the season as the No. 5 guy in name only. 

"Today, physically I felt way stronger than three days ago," Rodon said. "It's weird. The body is a special thing."

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