San Francisco Giants’ Carlos Rodon Bet On Himself And Won

Carlos Rodon bet on himself during the 2020-21 offseason.

The left-hander wasn’t tendered a contract by the Chicago White Sox after being limited to 7 2/3 innings during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season while having a $4.45-million salary.

Yet free to sign with 29 other teams, Rodon returned to the White Sox for 2021. And he took a one-year, $3-million deal.

The bet has paid off for the 29-year-old. He helped the White Sox win the American League Central last season — increasing his market value — then signed a two-year, $44-million contract with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent after the lockout ended March.

Prior to 2021, Rodon had a lackluster 29-33 record and 4.14 ERA in 97 career games, including 92 starts. He had not become the top-of-the-rotation starter the White Sox envisioned when they selected him third overall in the 2014 amateur draft from North Carolina State.

Signing Rodon was a bit of a gamble, too, for the Giants. He had shoulder surgery in 2017 and Tommy John elbow ligament replacement surgery in 2019.

However, Rodon is one of the reasons why the Giants have a shot at repeating as National League West champions. He is 6-4 with a 2.84 ERA in 13 starts and coming off a sparkling effort last Friday in which he pitched eight shutout innings and allowed two hits against the Pirates in Pittsburgh.

The groundwork started last year when Rodon had a 13-5 record and 2.37 ERA in 24 starts while also being selected to the All-Star Game for the first time and throwing a no-hitter.

“I was fortunate that the White Sox had given me another chance and they stuck with me and I’m grateful for that,” Rodon said. “I got to found out who I was. It took me about six years to find out who I was on the mound and who I was as a person. But I think all the adversity was a learning experience. I found out who I was through all the hard times.”

If anything, the adversity gave Rodon a different perspective on baseball and life.

Rodon, like many young pitchers, felt defined by his win-loss record. He has come to realize there is more in life that getting hitters out.

That’s why he quickly followed up the line about going through hard times by saying, “The hard times weren’t nearly as hard as they are for some people. You put it in all in perspective. We’re people but we’re playing a game. A lot of people are going things a lot more difficult than not being able to play baseball.”

Though baseball is just a game, it is also big business.

Rodon has a $21.5-million salary this season. He is scheduled to make $22.5 million in 2023, though he can opt out of the contract if he pitches at least 110 innings this season. Rodon has logged 73 innings so far this year.

The Giants have a 37-28 record and are in third place in the loaded NL West, three games behind the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers. Rodon’s six wins are tied for the team lead with Logan Webb, and he is second in innings pitched to Webb’s 78 2/3.

Rodon has also helped to hold together a rotation that is missing injured right-handers Anthony DeSclafani (ankle) and Jakob Junis (hamstring).

“I had a chance to hit the open market and I was fortunate to land on a very, very good team,” Rodon said. “That’s kind of what I wanted to do, play for a winning team. That’s our goal. I think any competitor wants to be on a winning team and I’m fortunate to come to San Francisco Giants. I’m really happy to be on this team.”

Rodon’s winning bet on himself has also come with a bit of a spiritual awakening.

“There are a lot of people involved who have gotten me here and there are so many people involved that I can’t thank them all because there are so many names,” Rodon said. “Honestly, I think it’s God’s plan. It’s in His hands. Sometime things don’t go your way and sometimes they do. I just put all my faith in the Lord, and he’s carried me to the point. That’s the truth and that’s what I believe in.”