Carlos Rodon, one of the most expensive acquisitions of the New York Yankees, is determined to ensure that his current stint on the Injured List (IL) is significantly shorter than his first. Just 48 hours after a hamstring injury landed him on the 15-day IL, the Southpaw pitcher is already back in action, resuming his throws on the field.
Rodon was spotted engaged in flat ground throws at Guaranteed Rate Field, only a few hours before the Chicago White Sox’s dominant 9-2 victory over the Yankees in the series finale on Wednesday night. This rapid return comes after Rodon’s sudden departure from a recent game against the Houston Astros, owing to hamstring tightness. Despite Rodon’s personal belief that he could forgo IL placement, the Yankees’ management opted to overrule his decision.
High hopes dashed by Rodon’s initial performance with the Yankees
The New York Yankees made a significant splash during the offseason, securing Carlos Rodon‘s services with a lucrative six-year, $162 million contract in free agency. However, Rodon’s debut with the Yankees was consistently deferred, initially due to a forearm strain followed by an undisclosed back injury.
Across six starts, Rodon’s performance fell short of expectations, casting doubt on the lofty anticipation surrounding his arrival. A worrisome 7.33 Earned Run Average (ERA), coupled with 18 walks and eight home runs conceded in just 27.0 innings, raised concerns among fans and pundits alike. A glaring statistic stands out: Rodon has yet to complete a single sixth-inning pitch for the Yankees.
In retrospect, questions arise about Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone‘s decision-making during Sunday’s game, where Rodon was pulled due to a lackluster performance. The Astros capitalized on Rodon’s struggles, securing five runs off the pitcher in a mere 2.2 innings of play.
Rodon’s setbacks have fueled the narrative that the Yankees’ season could potentially unravel if they don’t manage his return from injury carefully. With New York trailing by five games for the final American League (AL) wild-card position, the team’s playoff aspirations hang in the balance.
The Yankees’ post-All-Star break performance hasn’t been promising, having clinched only a single series victory since the midseason pause. This underlines the urgency for a turnaround in form as they strive to claw their way back into playoff contention.
As Rodon works diligently to expedite his return from injury, the baseball world watches with bated breath, wondering if the star pitcher can reclaim his dominant form and aid the Yankees in their push for postseason glory.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
