Danks will rejoin White Sox's rotation Friday

Nine months after undergoing shoulder surgery, John Danks is ready to rejoin the Chicago White Sox's rotation.

The left-hander will pitch Friday against the Miami Marlins at U.S. Cellular Field, which will be his first major league start since having a shoulder operation in August 2012.

Danks didn't break camp with the Sox in the spring and has steadily worked his way back to the big leagues, recently completing his minor league rehab stint after throwing four outings with Chicago's minor league affiliates.

In one start for Double-A Birmingham and two for Triple-A Charlotte, Danks went 2-0 with a 3.18. He displayed a bit of wildness, walking 13 while striking out 15 in 22 2/3 innings.

Danks threw a bullpen session Wednesday, and the decision was made after the White Sox's 6-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox to get him back into the rotation.

"I'm excited," Danks said. "It's been a long time, a long recovery. It's

nice to get back here and feel like a part of the team. I'm a big-leaguer again. Now, I've got to go out there and try to win us a ballgame."

White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Danks won't have any particular limits or have his start capped automatically after a certain number of innings.

Chicago cleared a roster spot for Danks by optioning left-handed reliever Donnie Veal to Charlotte. Veal was 1-0 with an 8.59 ERA in 14 appearances for the White Sox season.

Lefty Hector Santiago, who pitched effectively in Wednesday's loss to Boston, might find himself squeezed out of the rotation with Danks' return. Santiago is 1-3 with a 2.81 ERA in 12 games (five starts).