New York Yankees' Rodon Takes Massive Step Towards Return

NEW YORK - A big step in the right direction.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon began his rehab assignment for Double-A Somerset on Tuesday night and did not disappoint.

Rodon went three innings for the Patriots, throwing 42 pitches, allowing one hit, one run, one walk and struck out five batters.

What a return to the mound for #Yankees LHP Carlos Rodon‼️

3.0 IP | 1 H | 1 R | 1 BB | 5 K#RepBx pic.twitter.com/ZH1ZkiYES9
— Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) June 20, 2023

Carlos Rodón struck out four in a row and five in three innings for Somerset 🔥 pic.twitter.com/pXVfYGuND4
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) June 20, 2023

The left-hander struck out four batters in a row at one point. After allowing the first two hitters to reach base in the game, Rodon retired eight batters in a row.

So far, so good for Rodon, who Yankees manager Aaron Boone says will require at least three rehab starts before rejoining the big-league rotation.

The Yankees have been longing for their projected No. 2 starter to make his team debut all season, as Rodon has been sidelined since early on in Spring Training.

First, the southpaw went down with a forearm strain, but it was back tightness that prolonged his rehab program, virtually forcing him to shut things down and restart from the beginning.

New York signed Rodon to a six-year, $162 million deal in the offseason to come in and complement ace pitcher Gerrit Cole in the starting rotation.

Things have not gone as planned with Rodon to this date, but he is now just two starts away from making his Yankee debut and helping out the big-league club.