Carlos Rodon’s career in pinstripes hasn’t been what either side hoped it would be. Despite these mixed results, 2025 will be key for Rodon. With ace Gerrit Cole out for the season and reigning AL Rookie of the Year Luis Gil out for at least three months, the New York Yankees have suddenly been plunged into panic mode. Rodon, who will get the nod on Opening Day against the Milwaukee Brewers next Thursday, will now have to shoulder a much heavier burden in the starting rotation.
Down, But Not Out
As bleak as things look with this influx of injuries, things could be a lot worse. The team’s signing of Max Fried this winter seems much better after Cole’s Tommy John surgery. The left-hander will more than likely head the rotation along with Rodon. However, the Yankees’ depth has diminished. The back end of the rotation still looks murky, with veteran Carlos Carrasco and rookie Will Warren both battling for the final spot with the spring winding down.
The Yankees now need more than ever for their healthy pitchers to A) stay healthy, and B) live up to expectations. For Rodon, who, prior to the 2023 season, signed a six-year, $162 million deal, these expectations are very high after a mixed bag of success these past two seasons.
Good, Not Great
Last season was much better than the 32-year-old’s first with New York. Notably, he notched 16 wins, posting a 3.96 ERA with 195 strikeouts over 175 innings. Most importantly, he stayed healthy throughout practically the whole season. Interestingly, Rodon had 5 starts in which he gave up 5 or more earned runs, compared to the 21 he had in which he gave up 2 or less. Essentially, when it rains, it pours for Rodon.
He didn’t prove himself as a legit number two starter in the postseason. Despite two excellent starts against Cleveland in the ALCS, he had two major blowups against the Kansas City Royals in the ALDS and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series. When the New York Yankees sign you to a deal of such magnitude, they expect you to perform in the postseason.
Season Outlook
Rodon needs to home in on one pitch that will drastically improve his game: his four-seam fastball. He throws it around 49% of the time, so it’s obviously a big part of his success. Last season, though, his fastball faltered, so his stats did as well. He threw it 1530 times and gave up 21 home runs and hitters slugged .514 off it. Compared to his All-Star seasons in 2021 and ’22, he threw it 3119 times and gave up just 20 homers, with hitters slugging .336 and .359, respectively. Suppose Rodon can harness command and consistency on his fastball and continue mixing it with his breaking pitches, which have always been excellent. In that case, he should be able to return to the dominant form he took just a few years ago.
Rodon must take control of his fastball because his success could be a huge factor in whether or not the Yankees are competitive this season. With the rotation once the team’s strong suit, all the Yankees need is their $162 million starter to be the same great player they thought he would be when they signed him. If Rodon returns to consistent form and Max Fried stays healthy, New York may have a very formidable 1-2 punch at the top of their rotation this year.
Main Photo Credits: Dave Nelson-Imagn Images
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