Yankees' Carlos Rodón shows good velocity but struggles with control in his season debut
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Carlos Rodón’s seven-month recovery from elbow surgery apparently didn’t do anything to hinder the New York Yankees left-hander’s velocity. His ability to throw strikes remains a work in progress. Rodón made his season debut Sunday and held the Milwaukee Brewers hitless for the first 3 2/3 innings while reaching a peak velocity of 97.
7 mph. But he also walked five and hit a batter before leaving with one out in the fifth inning. His fastball averaged 95.
7 mph, up from 94. 1 mph last year. Only 42 of the 78 pitches Rodón threw were strikes.
“Velo’s great, but when I’m not commanding the zone, it really doesn’t matter how hard I’m throwing – when you’re spraying it,” Rodón said after getting no decision in the Yankees’ 4-3 loss. Rodón was pitching in the majors for the first time surgery Oct. 15 to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur.
His return got pushed back after he dealt with tightness in his left hamstring in late March. That followed a 2025 season in which he went 18-9 with a 3. 09 ERA and earned his third career All-Star Game selection.