According to rumors, Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon might miss the entire season due to injury. While not totally impossible, Rodon’s wife was forced to take to social media to address the rumors.
The lefty bomber with the White Sox in 2015, via Wikimedia
The left-handed starter has struggled with pain and discomfort since taking the field for the Bronx Bombers in 2023. Going back to spring training, he’s come into the season with multiple medical issues, most notably in his pitching arm and back.
Two things a pitcher can’t go without. Rodon already had Tommy John surgery back in 2019, and his forearm is bothering him again.
Carlos Rodon is certainly no stranger to injury, having struggled with multiple maladies during his tenure with the White Sox. However, he earned his money by posting back-to-back dominant seasons.
Carlos Rodon via YESNetwork YouTube
Heading into free agency, he went 14-8, with a 2.88 ERA and 237 strikeouts with the 2022 Giants. That earned him his ticket to The City That Never Sleeps.
Those seasons led to a massive, 6 year, $162 million contract with the New York Yankees this offseason. While Rodon has been looking to take a bite or two out of The Big Apple. So far, however, he’s barely even managed a nibble.
Rodon started the season on the injured list with the aforementioned ailments, which kicked off the rumor mill about him missing the entire season.
Source: Twitter
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Specifically, MLB YouTuber and commentator Jomboy, who made the prediction.
“Don’t get your hopes up for Rodon pitching this season,” Jomboy said on his channel, which has 1.75 million subscribers. “If we were to pass along things that have been passed along to us that are unverified, unsourced, un-whatever… Some people are just like, ‘I don’t think it’s going to happen.’”
That didn’t sit too well with one of Carlos Rodon’s biggest fans. His wife, Ashley, responded swiftly and sternly on social media. When a Twitter user re-stated the podcaster’s take, Ashley Rodon gave this laconic replied “Bullsh*t. -Reliable source.”
Source: Twitter
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I don’t know if wives are always reliable sources, but if there’s anyone in a position to know, it’s Ashley Rodon.
Despite any of this back-and-forth between the media personality and the hurler’s wife, the question still remains: What can the Yankees expect from Carlos Rodon in 2023… and beyond?
The 30-year-old was a premier free agent, signing the big contract with the Yanks in December. Over the course of his career, he’s 56-46 with a 3.60 Earned Run Average in eight seasons with the White Sox and Giants. He’s also got 947 career strikeouts and tossed a no-hitter against Cleveland in 2021.
For a team that finished 2022 with a 99-63 record (1st place, American League East), Carlos Rodon was supposed to be another piece of the Yankees’ diamond dynasty. Many were predicting him to have a banner year in his first season in New York.
Unfortunately, there were signs early on that something was amiss. Rodon came into Spring Training struggling with his mechanics and location. In his very first exhibition start in pinstripes, Rodon surrendered five runs on six hits, including two home runs, and a walk over two-plus innings of work.
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