Carlos Rodon defiant despite dip in velocity; arm X-ray negative after 115 mph hit

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After a “bipolar” show in the Bronx on a brisk 42-degree night, Carlos Rodon remained defiant despite a fall in his velocity and a clear sign of his struggles evident on his face. His failure played a big part in the Yankees’ series loss to the Diamondbacks.

The New York Yankees’ high-priced lefty took the mound with high expectations and a mission to build on a promising Opening Day performance. Instead, he showed more vulnerability than resilience, leaving fans and analysts wondering when his performances will consistently match the size of his contract.

The second start of the 2025 campaign for Rodon—a 6-year, $162 million investment by the Yankees—opened with signs of trouble. Facing the Arizona Diamondbacks, Rodon quickly surrendered a two-run homer to Lourdes Gurriel Jr. just three batters into the game. Arizona tacked on two more runs in the second, and it looked like Rodon might not make it out of the third.

But he did. And then some.

Rodon settled into a groove, retiring the final 10 batters he faced and ultimately logging six innings of three-hit, four-walk ball with five strikeouts. His final line—six innings, four earned runs—only tells part of the story. The other part is about a pitcher still trying to reclaim his dominance in pinstripes.

Throughout his outing, the worried star often looked at the radar gun. But he rejected any talk of distress.

“You know, it’s fairly normal. I tend to look pretty often, but definitely down below today, you know, a little cold,” Rodon said postgame. “Just slow to get moving, but I’m not super worried about it. Just part of one of those things where I didn’t have the super explosive fastball and just had to figure out how to pitch with it.”

Rodon’s cold reality: Velocity and command issues

The cold Bronx air seemed to play a role in Rodin’s early struggles. His fastball averaged just 93 mph—noticeably down from his Opening Day average of 94.5 mph. Several times throughout the game, he was seen examining his pitching hand, an action he chalked up to routine but one that didn’t go unnoticed.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone echoed the weather-related concerns, saying,

“Maybe it was just a little weather-related, a little cooler and stuff. [Rodón] was searching to find the strike zone a little bit there in those first couple of innings, but I thought stuff-wise, once he settled in, he was pretty good.”

Despite the early stumble, Rodon’s ability to adjust mid-game and put up four clean frames to end his night offered a sliver of optimism. But is “settling in” enough when you’re being paid to dominate?

Early season wobbles dims sky-high expectations

Rodon opened the 2025 season with a strong outing against the Milwaukee Brewers, tossing 5.1 innings and allowing just one earned run, flashing the kind of form that once made him a Cy Young finalist. That performance brought hope to a Yankees fanbase still reeling from his disappointing 2024 campaign, where injuries and inconsistency led to a bloated ERA and constant frustration.

But as the Yankees push into a critical season—with October aspirations and a reloaded roster—Rodon can’t afford to be inconsistent. His erratic command against Arizona (four walks) and a home run surrendered on an 0-2 pitch to Gurriel Jr. were painful reminders that he still hasn’t found his elite form.

Rodon dodges injury scare from 115 MPH line drive hit

Rodon’s night also included a tense moment in the fifth inning when he took a scorching 115 mph line drive off his right forearm. The crowd held its breath, but the southpaw stayed in the game after shaking it off. Postgame X-rays came back negative—a major sigh of relief for a rotation that can’t afford another injury setback.

“Carlos Rodón said X-rays on his forearm came back clean,” reported Yankees insider Chris Kirschner. “He took a 115 mph line drive off his right arm.”

Given Rodon’s history with injuries, including missing chunks of 2023 and 2024, this could have been a devastating blow. Instead, he managed to finish the sixth inning and walk off the mound under his own power, earning some respect for his toughness even on an off night.

Yankees’ investment still awaiting returns

The Yankees didn’t hand Carlos Rodon a nine-figure deal to be a middle-of-the-rotation arm. He was brought in to be a co-ace alongside Gerrit Cole—an intimidating left-handed weapon who could dominate in big moments and deliver in October.

So far, the return on that investment has been underwhelming.

With a deep lineup anchored by Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and Anthony Volpe, the New York Yankees don’t need Rodón to be perfect every night—but they do need him to be reliable. The longer his outings fluctuate between brilliance and breakdowns, the more pressure will mount, especially in a division where every start matters.

What’s next for Rodon and the Yankees?

There’s still ample time in the 2025 season for Rodon to find his groove. He’s healthy, his stuff is still there (albeit inconsistent), and he’s shown he can adjust mid-game when necessary. But he’ll need to string together multiple strong outings if he wants to shake the label of being a question mark in the Yankees’ rotation.

For now, the Yankees—off to a solid offensive start in the American League—can lean on their lineup to keep games close. But in the long run, they’ll need Rodon to live up to the contract, the hype, and the pinstripes.

And nights like Wednesday, where toughness masked early turbulence, must become the exception—not the norm.

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