Another day, another bleak injury update for Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon. Will his back ever get better?
New York Yankees fans, look away. Carlos Rodon just can’t catch a break.
Rodon signed a six-year, $162 million deal last December that hasn’t started paying off yet because the star pitcher has been unable to stay healthy. Rodon first landed on the injured list after suffering a forearm strain during spring training, and his debut with the Yankees was further postponed due to a back issue.
On Tuesday, Yankees general manager Aaron Boone revealed that Rodon couldn’t “get over the hump with his back.”
Three days later, on Friday, Rodon spoke to reporters himself and said his back issue was “chronic” and that he didn’t want to “put a timeline on anything.”
Definitely not good news.
Yankees ace Carlos Rodon is reportedly suffering from a “chronic” back issue
Rodon will have a cortisone shot next week to see if it helps ease the “tightness” that he feels; he mentioned that he’s been pushing the team to let him throw, but so far, the Yankees have rightfully remained extra cautious. The ace is expected to be shut down for several days after the cortisone treatment.
The Yankees have used 13 injured list stints so far this season, the second-most in the league behind the Mets.
New York baseball teams have not been faring well in 2023, and the Yankees are especially suffering. Currently ranked last place in the AL East, the Yankees sorely feel the superstar absences of Aaron Judge, Frankie Montas, Luis Severino, Giancarlo Stanton, and others.
Even if Rodon does return to become a co-ace alongside Gerrit Cole, there’s no telling if he can stay healthy considering his lengthy injury history which involves Tommy John surgery and shoulder issues.
The time is ticking for the 30-year-old. Yankees fans will just have to be patient.