The widely observed incident involving Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon, which occurred last September, garnered significant attention. Shortly thereafter, there were reports of an apology and attempts at reconciliation. However, the impact of the incident, which led to the premature end of Rodon’s 2023 season, still resonates, serving as a troubling punctuation mark on what was an already dismal first season for him in New York.
The incident unfolded during Rodon’s final start of the season in Kansas City on September 29th, when pitching coach Matt Blake made a mound visit just six batters into the game. By that point, Rodon had already given up five hits and a walk, including a home run, with the Yankees trailing 4-0 and yet to secure an out. When Blake approached him and began to speak, Rodon turned his back—a breach of both societal norms and the expected dynamics of a coach-pitcher relationship. Rodon later apologized for his behavior.
Recently, Blake addressed the incident on the “The Show” podcast, hosted by Jon Heyman and Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He stated, “Carlos and I are in a good place, I believe. There was certainly a lot of attention on that incident at the end of the season, and rightly so. It’s one of those moments that, in hindsight, you wish you could take back, and I believe Carlos feels the same way.”
Rodon’s outburst on the mound was likely fueled by a culmination of factors. Throughout his first season with the Yankees, he had struggled with injuries and a lack of consistency, making it a challenging adjustment period after signing a lucrative six-year, $162 million contract the previous December.
Despite these challenges, Rodon had shown signs of improvement in the weeks leading up to his final start. He had managed to string together three respectable outings, pitching for five-plus innings in each, a feat he hadn’t achieved all season. During this stretch, he had a record of 1-2 but maintained a solid 3.50 ERA and recorded 23 strikeouts over 18 innings. A strong performance in his last game against Kansas City would have provided him with much-needed momentum heading into the following season.
However, his hopes were dashed as he struggled during the game. As the situation worsened, pitching coach Matt Blake approached the mound. Reflecting on the incident, Blake acknowledged that Rodon had been dealing with various frustrations as the season came to a disappointing close. He noted the intense emotions that players experience, particularly when things are not going well on the field. While understanding Rodon’s emotional state, Blake emphasized the importance of handling such situations differently, expressing that they had discussed the incident and Rodon was aware that his reaction was not ideal.
Carlos Rodon Still Under Pressure in 2024
Despite being a seasoned veteran at 30 years old with nine years of experience, Rodon’s performance in the 2023 season was undoubtedly frustrating, particularly given his impressive track record, which included back-to-back All-Star appearances with the White Sox and Giants, leading to a significant contract with the Yankees.
According to Blake, Rodon faced significant challenges early in the season due to injuries, including an elbow problem during Spring Training followed by a back injury. These setbacks hindered his ability to establish a consistent rhythm on the field, making it difficult for him to perform at his best throughout the season.
However, beyond the injuries, there are concerns within the Yankees organization that opposing teams may have begun to figure out Rodon’s pitching style. With a relatively straightforward repertoire, consisting mainly of a fastball-slider mix, Rodon may need to adapt and evolve his approach to stay ahead of hitters in the league.
Blake noted that there is evidence to suggest that hitters are adjusting to Rodon’s pitching style, particularly his reliance on the fastball up in the zone. As a result, Rodon has been working on adding a new pitch to his arsenal—a cutter—in an effort to diversify his pitching strategy.
While Rodon showed promise in his first outing after incorporating the cutter, allowing only one run over 4.1 innings against the Astros, he still faced challenges, surrendering multiple hits and walks and having to navigate through difficult situations throughout the game. This indicates that there is still work to be done for Rodon to regain his form and effectiveness on the mound.
