Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Chicago White Sox left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon has thrown the second no-hitter of the 2021 MLB season. He joins Joe Musgrove who threw a no-hitter last week for the Padres.
Rodon threw nine near-perfect innings, facing just 28 batters. After 8 1/3 innings he hit Roberto Perez with a pitch on the shoelaces to lose the perfect game, but finished out the ninth inning to throw the 20th no-hitter in Chicago White Sox history, which included seven strikeouts over the course of 114 pitches thrown (75 strikes) as the White Sox defeated the Indians 8-0 in Chicago.
Rodon has defeated all odds coming back to pitch in 2021. He was drafted by the White Sox with the No. 3 overall pick in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 2015 and missed majority of the 2016 through 2020 seasons with elbow, bicep and shoulder injuries that led to and included major surgeries, including Tommy John surgery. He spent many stints on the injured list, between the 10-day and 60-day injured lists. In December he elected free agency, was non-tendered by the White Sox and was re-signed by Chicago in February.
Rodon was supposed to start on Monday but missed his start due to stomach issues. Clearly, it was meant for him to pitch on Wednesday. Rodon thought at times that he wouldn’t pitch again. He has thrown just 47 1/3 innings since 2019. Wednesday he threw a no-hitter, proving he is healthy again and ready to come back strong in 2021.
“A lot of work, a lot of people, a lot of help went into this,” Rodon said following his near-perfect outing.
With his no-hitter Wednesday night, Rodon becomes the 307th pitcher in MLB history to throw a no-hitter. It is Chicago’s 20th no-hitter, which is second most in MLB history behind the Dodgers (26).
