This time, Carlos Rodon takes questions

The last time we heard from Carlos Rodon, we heard that we wouldn’t be hearing from Carlos Rodon. It was the first of a few vague, shadowy exchanges between the Sox and media regarding the pitcher’s health.

With the White Sox in Arizona, though, Rodon was able to drive over from Camelback Ranch and rejoin his teammates for a series. This time, he provided a standard injury update, leaning heavily on the word “frustrated.”

• “It’s been frustrating.”
• “Like I said, frustrating.”
• “That’s all I can say, frustration.”

But there is a sense of progress. Rick Hahn said Rodon has thrown four simulated games, including one on Monday where he went up and down four times against minor-league hitters over 60 pitches. The description of the pain, which the Sox have labeled biceps bursitis but concerns the shoulder as much if not more, seems less acute.

"It's tightness, and now it's kind of fading away to more into a dull soreness after throwing," Rodon said. "It's based off recovery time, how fast I can recover. … Hopefully soon they'll lift the leash off and let me pitch in a game and get back up here for my boys."

Now that Rodon feels comfortable enough to answer questions, the next step will be establishing the start of the rehab assignment. Right now, Hahn gave no timetable, only using the word “coming weeks.”

This time, Yoan Moncada was the one causing alarm with a Snapchat showing him getting his sore left thumb examined. Hahn said he was visiting with a specialist to confirm the treatment he’s been receiving, and Hahn used “coming days” for Moncada’s return to action.

Now, Jake Petricka — here’s a guy who has reason to be frustrated. He already worked his way back from a hip impingement that cost him just about the entirety of 2016, and now a lat strain has limited him to just one appearance in 2017.

Instead, he sounds happier about his ability to pitch with some semblance of regularity:

“It’s been slow,” Petricka said. “I’m just kind of waiting on that muscle and letting it tell us when we can push it harder each day. Finally about the last two weeks we’ve been able to get back out there throwing and start pushing it in ways that you can see the progress. It’s been much better the last couple of weeks.”

Likewise, Nate Jones also faced hitters on Monday, and you can put “Charlie Tilson” and “baseball activities” in the same sentence.

Outfield prospect Charlie Tilson (stress reaction in right foot) has resumed light baseball activity, including running in the outfield and batting practice.