Carlos Rodon set to begin throwing Friday

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Carlos Rodon signs autographs at Camelback Ranch Thursday.

GLENDALE, Ariz. — White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper said left-hander Carlos Rodon will throw Friday, something he hasn’t been seen doing through the first three days of spring training.

Rodon, 24, has stood on the sidelines while the other pitchers have played catch and has refrained from making even short throws during fielding practice, scooping the ball to first with his glove. That has sparked some concern about his health, but Cooper said Rodon is easing his way into a long camp.

‘‘He’s throwing [Friday],’’ Cooper said Thursday. ‘‘He’s fine. He’s good. He’s good. He’s good. We are not going to ask somebody to do something if they are not.’’

Rodon, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2014 draft, is 18-16 with a 3.90 ERA in his first two seasons. He threw 165 innings last season, missing 24 days in July with a sprained left wrist.

‘‘Ease him into it a little bit,’’ Cooper said. ‘‘With the World Baseball Classic [this spring], we’ve got a whole lot of time, and we are going to take our time with him.’’

‘‘It’s a long spring,’’ manager Rick Renteria said. ‘‘He’s a guy we’re going to try to control and make sure we measure his workload so that we have him as much as we can during the season.’’

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Carlos Rodon chats with White Sox staff Thursday while other pitchers play catch.

Broadcast news

CSN and CSN+ will televise 107 games, starting with Opening Day on April 3. WGN-TV will televise 55 games, including two of the four Sox-Cubs games. The Sox-Cubs game July 26 will be televised on ESPN as well as on CSN.

Ken Harrelson, who is beginning his 33rd season in the Sox’ TV booth, will do play-by-play for Opening Day, the crosstown games at Guaranteed Rate Field and all but three road games

(June 16-18 in Toronto). Steve Stone is beginning his eighth season as the analyst and Jason Benetti his second as the play-by-play man for 78 of the 81 home games.

WLS-AM (890) will broadcast all 162 games on radio, with Ed Farmer as the play-by-play man and Darrin Jackson as the analyst.

Don’t call me Carlos

The infielder previously known as Carlos Sanchez heretofore will be called Yolmer Sanchez.

‘‘My family called me Yolmer, so I want to switch to that this year,’’ Sanchez said. ‘‘Yolmer Sanchez is going to be my new name.’’

Sanchez said his full name is Yolmer Carlos Javier Sanchez Yanez. He went by Carlos, his dad’s name, or Carlito growing up.

The bottom line?

‘‘I’m the same guy,’’ Sanchez said. ‘‘I’m going to work hard.’’

This and that

Right-hander Carson Fulmer, the No. 8 overall pick in the 2015 draft, on his struggles last season: ‘‘I needed to learn more about myself and my ability. I got kicked around a little bit, and I think that’s beneficial for me. It definitely helped me prepare myself for this year and really get ready to have a good year. It’s a new year.’’

*Because of excellent weather in Chicago, groundskeeper Roger Bossard said sprinklers will be on at the Sox’ ballpark in February for the first time in his 50 years caring for the home field. Meanwhile, rain is expected Saturday and Sunday in Arizona.

Follow me on Twitter @CST_soxvan.

Email: dvanschouwen@suntimes.com


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