The New York Yankees are starting to get healthy at just the right time. After weeks of MLB rumors, the Yankees officially reinstated star pitcher Carlos Rodon ahead of the Orioles series.
New York made the move official as Rodon prepared to take the mound against the Orioles on Tuesday, August 18.
“Prior to tonight’s game, the Yankees returned LHP Carlos Rodón (#55) from his rehab assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list,” the Yankees detailed in an August 18, message on X.
The news comes after Rodon made a successful rehab start on August 14. Rodon struck out seven batters while throwing 41 strikes on 58 pitches, allowing two hits and one walk in 4 1/3 scoreless innings.
“I feel like I’m always ready to get big league hitters out,” Rodon explained following his rehab start, per New York Post. “The goal was to go out there and throw as many strikes as I could and be efficient.
“As far as what’s next, not sure. I’d love to go out there, compete and help our team win [in the majors], but that is not up to me.”
Yankees News: Star Pitcher Carlos Rodon Is Expected to be on a Pitch Count vs. Orioles
Rodon was placed on the injured list on June 28, as the pitcher dealt with an elbow injury. The veteran is on a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees that is slated to go through 2028.
New York is expected to be cautious amid Rodon’s return. Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated that the team plans to pair Rodon with another arm when he takes the mound.
“I think we’ll piggyback him at some point,” Boone said of Rodon, per Marca.com.
“It’s just, do we have him do one more and then do the piggyback at whatever pitch count he’s at? That’s the most likely right now.”
The Yankees Are Also Awaiting the Return of Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger & Giancarolo Stanton This Season
The news bolsters the Yankees’ pitching rotation, but the club is also awaiting the return of some key bats. Aaron Judge, Cody Bellinger and Giancarolo Stanton are all players expected to return from injuries to the Yankees before the end of the season.
New York has been quiet about when Judge will return to the field, but the star has started to throw the baseball again.
“I know he threw and ran yesterday,” Boone noted regarding Judge on August 15, per Yahoo Sports. “Hopefully, [he’ll] continue to progress through this week and we’ll see what else gets introduced.
“… We expect him back, but we’re in the early stages of baseball activities, so hopefully things continue to go well. … He hasn’t done any baseball things in a while, so there’s a lot more to do.”
Time will tell just how soon the trio will return to the lineup. Of the three stars, Bellinger appears to be the closest to returning to play.
New York is running out of time to get healthy with the postseason fast approaching. The MLB playoffs are slated to start on September 29, and Yankees fans are hoping these three stars will be healthy in time for the postseason.
Yankees Announce Major Move With $162 Million Star Amid Orioles Series