Two years and about two weeks ago -- Dec. 2, 2020 -- the deadline for teams to tender a contract offer to pre-arbitration and arbitration-eligible players was at hand. The Chicago White Sox did not tender an offer to Carlos Rodon, a pitcher they selected with the third pick of the 2014 draft. Rodon eventually re-signed with Chicago but not until Feb. 1, 2021, not long before that season's spring training was set to begin.
You want to know how long it takes for an injury-riddled player to build up long-term value? The answer appears to be two years, at least for pitchers.