Most Yankees fans who sat through Carlos Rodon’s latest mound struggles refrained from giving the left-hander a piece of their booing mind Wednesday.
Following his three-plus innings on the mound, during which he allowed three runs and two home runs, a disgruntled individual couldn’t contain his frustration and shouted, “Rodon, you’re a disgrace!”
At the beginning of the Yankees’ 4-3 defeat at Steinbrenner Field, Rays’ leadoff batter Yandy Diaz smashed a fastball over the right-center field fence for an opposite-field home run on the first pitch. Rodon managed to keep the Rays to just one run until the fourth inning, when Amed Rosario doubled and Richie Palacios hit a two-run homer to right field.
After a challenging first season with the Yankees, Rodon, who has incorporated changeups, cutters, and curves into his previous fastball/slider combination, is struggling this spring. Although he performed decently in his initial start (2.2 IP, one solo homer), he opted for a three-ups live BP session instead of pitching in a game last week, resulting in four home runs surrendered to Yankees minor leaguers.
Rodon is currently facing challenges with his performance, experiencing subpar outcomes and a decrease in velocity during the game against the Rays. He attributes this to the typical fluctuations that power pitchers encounter during spring training. Despite this, his confidence seems to be wavering.
“I am working on regaining my confidence,” Rodon expressed following a 60-pitch appearance that resulted in one walk and one strikeout. “Concluding with a home run was not ideal… but I am striving to rediscover that confidence and swagger, as it is an integral part of my identity on the pitcher’s mound.”
Rodon appeared unfazed after his performance with the Rays, as he expressed his intention to experiment with pitches that he plans to utilize more frequently this season.
“It was a combination of various elements,” Rodon stated. “I didn’t have much success with swing-and-miss pitches, but I incorporated a variety of techniques. I believe I relied less on fastballs, which is a departure from my usual pitching style. It was enjoyable to throw some changeups and work on the new cutter with catcher Luis Torrens.
“Admittedly, I did give up some hits on poorly executed fastballs. I didn’t achieve the desired velocity on my fastball, but it was one of those days where I had to rely on other pitches. It was a valuable experience to pitch in a game that ultimately holds little significance because it’s just spring training.”
On one hand, it is undesirable to surrender home runs both at the beginning and end of the game, but there were some commendable pitches made in the middle.
“Having more swings and misses would have been preferable… but apart from that, it was a productive and satisfactory day of work.”
Rodon showcased his skills as an All-Star pitcher for the White Sox in 2022 and the Giants in 2023, which ultimately led to him securing a lucrative six-year, $162-million contract with the Yankees as a free agent after the 2023 season.
Rodon suffered an injury during spring training last year, which kept him out of action until July. Upon his return, he struggled, posting disappointing numbers with a 3-8 record and a 6.85 ERA in 14 starts.
Feeling healthy this spring, Rodon is optimistic about the upcoming season and aims to maintain his good health to deliver a strong performance.
“I just have to stay healthy and pitch,” he stated confidently. “I perform well when I’m in good shape.”
Leave a Reply