To say Carlos Rodón’s first season with the New York Yankees after signing a six-year, $162 million contract in December 2022 was underwhelming would be a gigantic understatement.
He started the 2023 MLB season stuck on the sidelines with a muscle strain, ended it by giving up eight runs in his final start of the season without recording a single out, and put together an abysmal 3-8 record with a 6.85 ERA in between. It’s why many MLB bettors wagered against the Yankees while betting with ESPN Sportsbook during Rodón’s starts at the beginning of the 2024 MLB season.
The massive Carlos Rodón contract looked like it may have been a waste of money heading into the left-handed pitcher’s sophomore season with the Bronx Bombers. But so far, the Carlos Rodón stats have been much better in 2024. Through his first 16 starts of the 2024 season, the former Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants star is 9-4 with a 3.86 ERA and 84 strikeouts.
So, how has Rodón turned things around in the Big Apple? For starters, you won’t find any Carlos Rodón news when you Google “Carlos Rodón injury.” The same couldn’t be said last season when he suffered forearm, back, and hamstring injuries throughout the season.
But the key to Rodón’s success in 2024 might have even more to do with the comfort he feels in New York this season rather than just his good health. He said as much following a 7-2 win over the White Sox in May in which he gave up just 2 runs and 4 hits in 6 innings.
“This doesn’t feel overwhelming anymore,” Carlos Rodón said. “This feels like home, which is nice. That makes a huge difference for sure.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked about Rodón’s strong start to the season, and he was quick to point out that injuries played a major part in his struggles last year. But he also acknowledged that Rodón put in the necessary work in the offseason to be able to bounce back like he has.
“Last year kind of snowballed [with the] injury setbacks,” Boone said. “How do you respond? Some guys don’t. He has. He’s put in the work to put himself in a position…to get the most out of [his] talent.”
Rodón isn’t the only Yankees pitcher enjoying success this season, either. The team’s ace Gerrit Cole has only made one start because of inflammation in his right elbow. However, Luis Gil is 9-2 through 15 starts with a 2.77 GPA while Marcus Stroman is 7-3 through 16 starts with a 3.15 ERA.
These stellar pitching performances have been a big reason for all the success the Yankees have enjoyed through the first half of the 2024 season. They currently sit at the top of the AL East with a 52-27 record, and it could lead to Rodón and the rest of the Yankees pitchers taking center stage when playoff baseball starts in October.
As Rodón continues to shine, his journey serves as an inspiring tale of resilience and determination in the world of sports.
