The White Sox needed its bullpen pitchers to throw strikes.
Enter Bruce Rondon.
Brought up from Triple-A Charlotte ahead of Sunday’s series finale with the Detroit Tigers, Rondon was a bright spot in a 1-0 loss. He faced four batters. He struck out batters.
That was a drastic turn of events for a relief corps that began play Sunday with the highest bullpen ERA in the majors. Rondon was only up in the first place because Juan Minaya was sent down after he walked all four hitters he faced in Saturday’s loss.
“I wasn’t expecting to be here as soon as I was,” Rondon said through a translator after the game. “I’m very thankful to the White Sox for the opportunity they have given me just to show again what I’m able to do at this level. I want to take advantage of every single day and take full advantage of this opportunity because I know I’m able to do a good job here.”
Rondon was one of several veteran relievers Rick Hahn’s front office inked to minor league deals this winter, and while none of those guys made the Opening Day roster, they figure to get their shots as the season goes on to become the kind of sign-and-flip guys that could land the rebuilding White Sox prospects, a la the bullpen selloff of 2017.
This kind of performance from the still-just-27-year-old Rondon should generate some interest around the league. Of course it’s only one game, but after watching the bullpen get off to such a shaky start, the White Sox will take it.
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And so will Rondon, who went from being a big-time prospect for these same Tigers to facing them Sunday. The first batter he struck out? Longtime teammate Miguel Cabrera, who gave Rondon some good-natured ribbing when the pitcher accidentally walked into the visitors clubhouse upon his Sunday-morning arrival.
“It was a really nice experience for me because I knew I was facing one of the best hitters in the world, for me the best,” Rondon said. “To be able to face him and to strike him out was a really, really good experience.
“Honestly I needed a fresh start, a change. Just a start from scratch in another organization with no strings attached. I think with this opportunity with the White Sox I’m able to do it. I showed it today in the first time, all the good things I can accomplish.
“Definitely at some point with all the ups and downs (during my time with the Tigers) I lost confidence in myself, but you know what, that’s one of the things right now I’m really glad because I feel comfortable with this organization since I joined this team in spring training. I know that the manager, the coaches and all my teammates have confidence in me and I feel very very good here. I feel like this is my home now.”