Yankees’ Carlos Rodón Punches Out Five in First Rehab Outing
Six months after signing a lucrative six-year, $162-million contract in free agency with the New York Yankees, left-hander Carlos Rodón was finally back on the mound on Tuesday, beginning a rehab assignment with double-A Somerset.
Rodón, who hasn’t played all season due to forearm and back injuries, took the next step in his recovery process and looked solid in his return, tossing three innings of one-run ball in his Patriots debut. He threw 42 pitches – including 27 strikes – before departing after the third.
The 30-year-old lefty appeared a little rusty out of the gate, surrendering a walk to Leo Jimenez and a single to Orelvis Martinez – two top-ranked Toronto Blue Jays prospects – before inducing a double-play. That did allow Jimenez to score from third, though.
It was the only run charged to Rodón, as he retired the final eight batters he faced – including his first-inning double-play – with five being set down via strikeout, generating six swinging strikes.
Rodón’s outing wasn’t perfect, but considering it was his first taste of game action since early March in spring training, he will happily take it. After all, there’s nothing better than returning to a live-game setting following an extended absence.
The two-time All-Star must clear a few additional hurdles before returning to the Yankees’ active roster. But Tuesday’s appearance was a crucial first step in that direction. Now, he can aim to build upon this success during his next time out.
“I felt sharp after the first. The third, I felt like I started finding myself,” Rodón said of his first rehab appearance post-game. “At this point, I’m just trying to execute pitches, and that’s just the goal.”
“I felt like I was almost just kind of getting started, kind of finding that groove. It was good that I found it in the third – I wish it was out the get-go, but that’s not how it always works.”
The Yankees plan to reassess Rodón after three rehab starts, with his next one tentatively scheduled for this Saturday in Somerset against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats – a rematch of Tuesday’s contest. But the team has yet to announce its official pitching plans.
From the outside looking in, Rodón is eager to return to the majors as soon as possible to help a New York club riddled with injuries – particularly on the pitching front – and has lost five of seven heading into play on Wednesday. Still, he also realizes he can’t afford to rush the process, either.
Patience is a virtue – which typically doesn’t come easy for professional athletes. In this case, however, the 6-foot-3 hurler intends to do right by himself and his teammates, even if that means waiting longer than he’d prefer.
“I know we’re in a rut right now,” Rodón said. “We’re not playing well as a unit, and it is hard sitting here watching and not being able to help the team. But it’s one of those things where I can’t go out there and throw 40 pitches – that doesn’t do much for our team and our bullpen. I have to build back to a number that I’m going to be able to eat innings and compete.”
“Completing and getting through this today is one step closer – just got to be patient with it.”
Rodón’s professional career is littered with numerous elbow and shoulder-related ailments, ultimately leading to his sudden departure from the Chicago White Sox following the 2021 campaign. But, as it turned out, that allowed him to bet on himself the following season.
The veteran lefty signed as a free agent with the San Francisco Giants, excelling to a 2.88 ERA, 2.64 xERA and 2.25 FIP in 31 starts across a career-high 178.0 innings. He also posted impressive strikeout (33.4 percent) and walk rates (7.3 percent), worth 6.2 fWAR.
As a result, Rodón finished sixth in NL Cy Young voting and ultimately exercised his opt-out clause with the Giants, clearing a path for him to become the Yankees’ marquee off-season acquisition.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @ThomasHall85
Photo: Andrew NYR. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license.