MESA, Ariz. -- The strongest sign that Chicago White Sox top prospect Carlos Rodon will open the season in the minor leagues came Friday from manager Robin Ventura.

Carlos Rodon appears to be ticketed for Triple-A to work on his changeup. Ron Vesely/MLB Photos/Getty Images)

“Everybody has different opinions on him, but you don’t want to put him in there with one pitch or two pitches,” Ventura said Friday. “You want him to be armed with the things that make him successful and you don’t want him to come up here and be a flash in the pan and he’s got to go down and work on stuff. He needs to be a complete product when he comes out of here.”

That added pitch Ventura wants to see Rodon master is a changeup. It has improved as camp has gone on, according to the reports, but it still remains a work in progress.

It didn’t exactly matter that Rodon had just two pitches when he started Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals. In an early-evening start, the left-hander struck out nine batters, dominating his scoreless outing with a fastball that set up his slider.

“You do see the talent that’s there and what’s inside,” Ventura said. “You saw it in the other night. There’s still time to go in this camp and we’ll see where that ends up.”

Rodon is expected to be in the starting rotation at Triple-A Charlotte and will be a phone call away if the White Sox need starting help. There was talk about him possibly pitching out of the bullpen, but the White Sox appear to be willing to wait before making that move.

“The changeup is getting much better every time he goes out there, Ventura said. “The last thing you want is him going out there and counting on one pitch.”