NEW YORK — Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón underwent a process on his left elbow to take away free our bodies and shave down a bone spur, supervisor Aaron Boone stated Thursday.
Rodón is just not anticipated to be prepared for Opening Day 2026, however his restoration timetable places him in line to return to the Yankees rotation both someday in April or early Could subsequent season.
For now, Rodón is not going to throw for eight weeks. That interval of no exercise, which can final till mid-December, will push again the beginning of Rodón’s 2026 season.
“While you construct in all of the ramp-up and the throwing program and getting him able to be a beginning pitcher, that in all probability delays him doubtlessly a few weeks to begin the season,” Boone stated at Thursday’s information convention at Yankee Stadium.
Rodón had the surgical procedure on Wednesday. It was carried out by Dr. Neal ElAttrache in Los Angeles, who additionally carried out Yankees ace Gerrit Cole’s Tommy John surgical procedure in March.
The 32-year-old Rodón is coming off his finest season as a Yankee, having gone 18-9 — tied for second-most wins within the Majors — with a 3.09 ERA in 33 begins. He struck out 203 batters in 195 1/3 innings, and held opponents to a .188 batting common, which was the very best mark within the AL. He was additionally named an All-Star for the third time in his 11-year MLB profession.
As a result of Rodón might be beginning the 2026 season on the injured checklist, the Yankees might look to pursue further beginning pitching in free company or through commerce this winter. However common supervisor Brian Cashman stated Thursday that he is unsure but what the crew’s plan of action might be.
“Actually the final two years have been actually good for us with Carlos,” Cashman stated. “However I do not know what which means [as far as] the place we put our remaining sources, and the way we reinforce. Do we now have sufficient from inside, or do we now have to go outdoors to enhance? You’ll be able to by no means have sufficient pitching, so I do not know. However clearly the great factor is: He is coming again, so we now have to ensure there’s room on that roster when he does.”
The 2025 season was Rodón’s third since signing a six-year, $162 million cope with New York. The lefty was robust for the Yankees down the stretch, permitting two earned runs or fewer in 4 of his 5 September begins to assist New York clinch an AL Wild Card spot.
Rodón made two begins within the postseason — one every within the AL Wild Card Sequence vs. the Purple Sox and the ALDS in opposition to the Blue Jays — and pitched to a 9.72 ERA in 8 1/3 innings.
The Yankees had been conscious that Rodón’s elbow would possibly ultimately want a cleanup. However Rodón was capable of hold pitching by way of the season, and medical doctors deemed it appropriate to attend to deal with the difficulty a minimum of till after the postseason.
“We knew sooner or later it is perhaps one thing that must be handled,” Cashman stated. “If this presser was three weeks in the past, I would not have had a surgical procedure on my thoughts for Carlos Rodón, taking him out originally of subsequent yr. However it’s additionally not stunning, given the job that he does.”
In different Yankees pitcher damage information, the Bombers’ ace continues to make progress in his Tommy John surgical procedure restoration.
Cole’s on monitor to begin going through reside hitters from the mound sooner or later throughout Spring Coaching, and whereas he will not be prepared by Opening Day, the Yankees are hopeful that Cole might be pitching for them in 2026 not lengthy after.
Cole, who has been rehabbing from the surgical procedure he had on his proper elbow in March, is scheduled to throw calmly off a mound subsequent week. He’ll meet with Dr. ElAttrache in California subsequent month and once more earlier than Spring Coaching.
