Jul 7, 2023; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon (55) reacts during the fifth inning against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
MLB: Chicago Cubs at New York Yankees
(Bronx, NY) – The struggles of Yankees’ starter Carlos Rodon has been a mystery this season.
After signing a six-year, $162 million contract this offseason, the hope was the lefty would help provide a 1-2 punch alongside ace Gerrit Cole. It hasn’t happened. Rodon, who emerged with the Chicago White Sox and pitched last year with the San Francisco Giants, has dealt with both injury and ineffectiveness.
After enduring a forearm strain during spring training and then missing a good chunk of the year to start the season, Rodon again suffered an injury recently, when his hamstring got tweaked. Now, he’s ready to make his first start since that injury cropped out.
Speaking with reporters over the weekend, Rodon was succinct in summing up his Yankees career to date: “a pile of s–t.”
So what do professional evaluators see? The New York Post’s Dan Martin spoked to an AL scout who remained anonymous but intimated that Rodon’s “stuff” – velocity, movement, and command – haven’t been far off. The scout theorized, “I don’t know if it’s a combination of the health stuff early on and the new environment and the expectations, but he’s just been off. The put-away stuff hasn’t been there.”
The last time Rodon pitched he exited early, after experiencing the hamstring injury. Speaking to a Post reporter last month, Rodon said, “You can tell that this year, it’s different. The hitters are hunting me, they’re hunting my strengths and what I do best, and they’re doing damage. I fall behind in counts, they’re sitting fastball, I throw fastball. They know that.”
Rodon’s slider hasn’t been super sharp, but data suggests he’s also experienced some bad luck when throwing it. But the biggest culprit in his lack of success has been his fastball.
After Rodon’s 4-seamer ranked among the best in the game during recent seasons, it’s been downright hittable here in 2023. Batters are posting an expected slugging percentage of .554.
Last year the same stat checked in at .347, and .366 in 2021. He’s given up a .826 OPS against righties, but even more surprisingly, the southpaw has surrendered a .877 OPS vs. lefties. And home hasn’t been so sweet: Rodon has allowed a 6.11 ERA at Yankee Stadium. Of course, outside the Bronx has been even uglier: a 9.64 ETA in two road starts.
Yankees GM Brian Cashman and the Bronx Bombers fans be willing to accept a one-year mulligan for Rodon, but given he has five years remaining on the deal at season’s end – those numbers won’t cut it for the longhaul.
