With the calendar flipped to September, all MLB teams are now allowed to carry 28 players on their roster, giving each team two additional roster spots to work with. For the White Sox, they have decided to use those two spots to recall pitcher Luis Patino and middle infielder Jose Rodriguez.
Patino was acquired at the trade deadline from the Rays for cash considerations. Once regarded as one of the elite prospects in all of baseball, Patino has not been able to convert his talent into sustainable success at the MLB level quite yet. At just 23 years old, though, the White Sox thought it was worth a shot to trade for him without having to give up a player in return. The Sox sent him to Triple-A Charlotte, and since he joined the Sox system he has held a 5.65 ERA with 12 strikeouts in 14.1 innings. He provides some pitching depth for this team and could be used either as a starter or a multi-inning reliever.
Rodriguez currently ranks as the eighth-ranked prospect in the White Sox farm system according to both MLB Pipeline and Sox on 35th’s mid-season prospect rankings. He made his professional debut with the Sox back in June, although he did not record a single plate appearance and was used only as a pinch runner and defensive replacement in his brief stint. He got off to a slow start to the minor league season, but since June he has hit .291 with an .812 OPS, 11 home runs, and 22 stolen bases. He and Lenyn Sosa are widely regarded as the top internal options to play second base for the White Sox in 2024.
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Featured Image: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
