Yankees starter Carlos Rodon threw ‘everything’ to hitters in next rehab step

Yankees starter Carlos Rodon threw ‘everything’ to hitters in next rehab step

Amid the dangerous haze Wednesday in The Bronx, a bright spot for the Yankees shined through as Carlos Rodon returned to pitch against hitters.

While the Yankees were on the West Coast for a road trip last week, Rodon threw multiple bullpen sessions.

On Wednesday, he made the transition to hitters, facing Oswaldo Cabrera and Jake Bauers.

“Yeah, I mean to step on the mound and face some hitters, that’s a step towards the end goal of pitching here for the boys. So, yeah, it was a good step,” Rodon said before the second game of a three-game series against his former team, the White Sox, was postponed.

It will be made up as part of a single-admission doubleheader on Thursday.

The lefty starter was initially sidelined in March by a strained pitching elbow before back discomfort further delayed his return to the mound.


Carlos Rodon
Carlos RodonUSA TODAY Sports

Manager Aaron Boone said it was a simple decision to allow Rodon and his teammates to work on the field despite the weather conditions because they knew it would be “short” and “everyone was on board with it.”

Rodon, 30, threw “everything” in 20 pitches at a velocity of what he said was around 92-94 mph, in front of a crowd that included owner Hal Steinbrenner, general manager Brian Cashman, adviser Omar Minaya and former Yankee lefty CC Sabathia.

“Jake said he thought it was coming out good,” Rodon said of the feedback he received. “I was telling him that I wish I would have done a couple more sliders for strikes to him, but other than that, it was good feedback.

“I threw one slider to Oswaldo that was pretty good and the fastballs were in the zone where I wanted and got a couple swings and misses. You know, good enough for today.”

Down the line Rodon said he hopes to put “the ball in the zone a little more” as he is just “focused on the results right now.” He predicted the next step in his rehab will be another live batting practice in “the near future.”

The Yankees signed the two-time All-Star in the offseason to a six-year $162 million deal, but are still waiting for him to take the mound for the first time.

Rodon spent his first seven seasons with the White Sox, earning an All-Star nod in 2021 before pitching last season with the Giants.