The New York Yankees are gearing up for a major boost to their pitching staff, with left-hander Carlos Rodón expected to rejoin the rotation this Sunday in Milwaukee. After a long recovery from elbow surgery and a hamstring setback, the three-time All-Star appears ready to make his season debut—bringing a much-needed spark to the mound.
Rodón has been sidelined since undergoing surgery on October 15 to remove loose bodies from his left elbow and shave a bone spur. A late-March setback, when he felt tightness in his right hamstring during a throwing session in Florida, delayed his return further. But the veteran lefty has been building up strength through rehab, making his third minor league start on Tuesday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Over 6 1/3 innings, he allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits, striking out four and walking two while throwing 83 pitches against the Worcester Red Sox.
“I think he’s felt ready to go now the last couple times,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We feel like he’s ready to go. Feel like he’s been throwing the ball well. He’s starting to command his stuff well.”
Rodón will take over the rotation spot recently held by rookie Elmer Rodríguez, who went 0-1 with a 5.19 ERA over 8 2/3 innings in his first two major league starts—both against Texas. The 22-year-old right-hander has shown promise, but Rodón’s experience could steady the rotation as the Yankees push through the early season.
While the pitching news is promising, the Yankees are still dealing with an injury to first baseman Ben Rice. The left-handed slugger missed his third straight start Wednesday night against the Texas Rangers due to a bruised left hand, sustained when he caught a low pickoff throw during Sunday’s win over Baltimore. Rice was forced to leave that game early and has been sidelined since.
Boone remains optimistic that Rice won’t need a stint on the injured list. “It doesn’t look like it’s going to be an IL. Again, if it continues to not get to a point where he’s playable, then obviously we’ll have that conversation. But it does seem day to day,” Boone said. “I know he felt better today. So hopefully he’s able to do some things and maybe even be available on some level, but we’ll see.”
In Rice’s absence, veteran Paul Goldschmidt has stepped in at first base, starting again Wednesday against Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Rice’s bat has been a major weapon for the Yankees this season—he’s batting .343 with 12 home runs and 27 RBIs, and leads the majors in on-base percentage (.455), slugging percentage (.759), and OPS (1.214). His return to the lineup will be a welcome sight for a team looking to maintain its offensive firepower.
For now, the Yankees are taking a cautious approach with both players, but the return of Rodón on Sunday could be the first step in getting the team back to full strength.