Social media erupted after Chicago White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon threw a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday.
Last week, MLB fans got to witness the first no-hitter of the season by San Diego Padres pitcher Joe Musgrove, which happened to be the first no-no in the franchise’s history. Not even one full week later, and we already have our second no-hitter of the 2021 season, and it comes from the South Side of Chicago.
Entering the ninth-inning of Wednesday’s game against the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon had a perfect game in his grasps. Unfortunately, the perfection came to an end in the form of a hit by pitch to Roberto Perez. But, Rodon received a tremendous consolation prize with a no-hitter after getting outfielder Jordan Luplow to ground out to secure Chicago’s 8-0 win.
As is the case when any historic sports moments occurs, social media erupted.
Love this for Carlos Rodon.
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) April 15, 2021
No. 3 overall pick.
Labeled by some as a bust after numerous shoulder injuries sidelined him.
Shoulder surgery in 2018.
Tommy John surgery in 2019.
Non-tendered by the White Sox in 2020.
Makes history by throwing a no-hitter in 2021. pic.twitter.com/yMAJWYffNl
From third overall pick to shoulder woes to bottoming out at 91.5 mph on his average fastball and needing Tommy John surgery to getting nontendered to coming back to Chicago anyway to hitting 99 in the ninth inning of a no-hitter, Carlos Rodón has had one hell of a baseball ride.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 15, 2021
Dude had two huge surgeries, got non-tendered, only threw 42 innings since 2018.
— Céspedes Family BBQ (@CespedesBBQ) April 15, 2021
Tonight. No-hitter.
INCREDIBLE stuff from Carlos Rodon
https://twitter.com/KnightsBaseball/status/1382527255457464321?s=20
Perfect game would've been great but no-hitter still historic, amazing given what Carlos Rodon overcame. Non-tendered by #WhiteSox, Rodon signed $3M deal in January to return. After two surgeries and bouts of inconsistency since '14, Rodon culminates comeback. What a competitor.
— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) April 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/LanceBriggs/status/1382527968732385283?s=20
https://twitter.com/AJCassavell/status/1382527350772932610?s=20
https://twitter.com/AROD/status/1382530637056286720?s=20
Carlos Rodon has thrown the first no-hitter in nearly 120 hours
— Keith Olbermann❎❌🙅🏼♂️ (@KeithOlbermann) April 15, 2021
https://twitter.com/Markgubicza/status/1382527198658121735?s=20
White Sox: Carlos Rodon pitches the second no-hitter of the 2021 season
Before the perfect game became obsolete after Rodon hit Perez’s foot, it was very close to ending in the previous at-bat. Cleveland outfielder Josh Naylor hit a grounder to first baseman Jose Abreu, who had to step off the bag to retrieve it. Abreu would grab the baseball and stretch out his right foot to get Naylor out by the slimmest of margins. Let’s just say that Rodon owes Abreu a beer or two for that heads-up, extra effort play.
Rodon struck out nine batters and recorded zero walks on 114 pitches thrown in Chicago’s win. His mind had to be at ease when watching the White Sox score six runs in the bottom of the first inning, three of which came on a home run by rookie sensation Yermin Mercedes.
After dealing with numerous injuries and surgeries throughout his career, Rodon has now thrown the 20th no-hitter in White Sox history.