New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon wasn’t quite firing on all cylinders during his second spring training start on Wednesday. His fastball velocity, a key component of his arsenal, wasn’t at its peak. The average fastball speed clocked in at 93.2 mph, with a maximum of only 94.8 mph. This dip in velocity forced Carlos Rodon to lean more heavily on his secondary pitches throughout the outing. While he managed to complete the outing with 60 pitches thrown, it wasn’t the dominant performance he was likely aiming for.
It’s important to remember that spring training is a time for pitchers to work on their mechanics and experiment with different approaches. This could explain Carlos Rodon’s focus on his secondary pitches. However, the Yankees will undoubtedly be monitoring his progress closely as the season opener approaches.
Carlos Rodon mentioned after Wednesday’s game that he didn’t achieve the fastball velocity he had aimed for, but he acknowledged that it’s a common occurrence in the sport. Carlos Rodon emphasized the importance of being able to pitch effectively even without relying heavily on the fastball and expressed satisfaction in being able to utilize other pitching strategies during a spring training game, where the outcome holds less significance.
Carlos Rodon reflected on his performance, expressing a desire to avoid giving up home runs, both at the start and end of his outing. However, he acknowledged that there were some positive pitches made in between those instances.
Carlos Rodon gives Yankees a headache
New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon’s fastball velocity has been a topic of discussion during spring training. In his first outing on February 25th against the Blue Jays, his fastball averaged a healthy 93.6 mph, with a peak of 95.9 mph. However, subsequent starts have shown a dip in velocity.
Manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees are aware of this decrease, but they attribute it to Carlos Rodon pitching on a five-day schedule, which they consider a normal part of the spring training workload management strategy. To address this and potentially see a return to peak velocity, Boone revealed the team is considering pushing Carlos Rodon’s next start back to next Wednesday. This would allow for a seven-day gap between outings, potentially giving him more time to rest and refine his mechanics.
With the season opener approaching, the Yankees will be closely monitoring Carlos Rodon’s progress. The upcoming start on Wednesday, with the extended rest period, will be a good opportunity to see if this approach helps him regain his top fastball velocity.
A positive sign for Yankees beyond Carlos Rodon debacle
There’s positive news for the New York Yankees as manager Aaron Boone confirmed Jose-Trevino‘s return to action. Following Wednesday’s loss, Boone announced that Trevino will make his spring training debut on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves. This will be the 28-year-old catcher’s first game action since a calf injury sidelined him before camp began.
Assuming Trevino avoids any further setbacks, his return paves the way for a spot on the Opening Day roster. However, this creates a healthy competition for the backup catcher role. With Trevino’s return imminent, Boone and the Yankees’ management now face the task of determining who will join him on the Opening Day roster.
Catchers Austin Wells, Ben Rortvedt, and others still have valuable time remaining in spring training to showcase their skills and make a strong case for the final spot behind the plate. The upcoming games will be crucial for these catchers as they vie to be part of the Yankees’ Opening Day squad.
Yankees trim roster to 52
The New York Yankees made some roster moves following their Wednesday game, reassigning catcher J.C. Escarra and infielder T.J. Rumfield to minor league camp.
Escarra, who hasn’t played in the minors since 2021, saw action in five spring training games, going 3-for-11 at the plate. During his last minor league season across Double-A and Triple-A, he posted a respectable batting average of .223, with an on-base percentage of .332, a slugging percentage of .358, and an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of .690.
Rumfield, in parts of seven spring training games, managed one hit in eight at-bats and stole a base. In the previous season, he split his time between High-A and Double-A, recording a slash line of .222/.320/.437 with an OPS of .757.
Left-handed pitcher Tanner Tully was also reassigned to minor league camp prior to the Wednesday game. Tully had a strong showing in his limited time this spring, pitching four innings across two appearances (including one start) and allowing only one hit and one walk.
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