Carlos Rodón to Throw 50 Pitches Saturday in Triple-A Rehab Start

Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón begins a rehab assignment with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Saturday following a stint on the 15-day injured list.

New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón is scheduled to begin a minor league rehab assignment this Saturday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. The southpaw aims to throw approximately 50 pitches as he works back from left elbow inflammation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone indicated the team might utilize a "piggyback" strategy for Rodón’s eventual Major League return, referencing the July 22 return of Max Fried from a bruised left elbow. Fried has since completed three starts with pitch counts of 57, 66, and 78.

Rodón was placed on the 15-day injured list on July 3, a move the Yankees made retroactive to the preceding Tuesday. His last appearance occurred on June 28 during a 5-4, 10-inning loss at Boston, where he allowed two runs and one hit over five innings of work. During that outing, team officials noted a slight decrease in his velocity. To address the inflammation, the pitcher received platelet-rich plasma injections. He recently completed a 40-pitch simulated session on Monday against a group of hitters that included injured outfielder Giancarlo Stanton.

Injury History and Contract Details

Currently in the fourth season of a six-year, $162 million contract, Rodón has posted a 4-2 record with a 3.30 ERA across nine starts this year. His season debut was delayed until early May as he recovered from an October 15 surgery to remove loose bodies and shave a bone spur in his left elbow. During his initial recovery in late March, he suffered a setback involving tightness in his right hamstring while training at the Yankees' Florida complex.

Despite struggling with command during his first three starts in May, Rodón found a rhythm before his most recent injury. He went 4-0 with a 2.97 ERA over his final six outings prior to the IL stint. Since signing with the New York franchise, the veteran starter has compiled a 41-28 record and a 3.93 ERA through 88 total starts. Last season, he managed an 18-9 record with a 3.09 ERA while pitching through arm discomfort.

Return Timeline and Pitching Strategy

Boone spoke regarding the rehabilitation plan before the Yankees started a three-game series against Atlanta on Friday. The manager noted that Rodón is currently "close to 50, not quite 50 pitches" for the Saturday appearance. The coaching staff is weighing whether to schedule a second rehab start with an increased workload or transition him directly into the big-league rotation under a restricted pitch count.

Rodón stated that the injections were part of a deliberate medical plan rather than a sign of a setback in his recovery. The left-hander's return is expected to bolster a rotation that saw him pitch five innings in the 5-4 extra-inning defeat at Fenway Park on Sunday. The Yankees' decision on his next step will depend on his performance and physical response following the Triple-A outing in Scranton.