NEW YORK — Carlos Rodon recently experienced some back stiffness while recovering from a left forearm strain suffered early in spring training, but Aaron Boone said the southpaw threw on Tuesday and is scheduled for a Wednesday bullpen.
If that goes well, Rodon will throw a live BP session on Friday. While Rodon’s forearm has felt fine, Boone said that an end-of-April return now “seems a little aggressive” for the pitcher.
“We’re certainly not gonna rush it just to do it,” Boone said. “We want to make sure he’s in a good spot and built [up] properly.”
Rodon, the Yankees’ most significant addition of the offseason, has dealt with injuries in the past, including a similar forearm issue that he pitched through with San Francisco last May. Still, the Yankees felt comfortable giving him a six-year, $162 million contract in December.
That’s partly because Rodon is coming off two straight All-Star seasons with the White Sox and Giants. He owns a 2.67 ERA over 55 starts and 310 2/3 innings pitched since the 2021 campaign began.
Just joking
On Monday, Luis Severino told reporters that he worked on a splitter while throwing his first bullpen since injuring his lat late in spring training. On Tuesday, he said he was just kidding about the new pitch.
More importantly, the righty’s next bullpen is scheduled for Thursday. He hopes it’ll be his last before facing hitters, but he noted that that’s not his call.
Recovery roundup
Elsewhere on the injury front, Boone said that…
Josh Donaldson (hamstring) is “doing better,” “hitting full bore,” and has been increasing the intensity of his workouts in New York, though the manager had yet to receive a Tuesday report on the third baseman by the time he spoke to reporters.
Center fielder Harrison Bader (oblique) has already “hit off velo” and will continue ramping up this weekend.
Right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle (bicep tendinitis) is “doing well in his throwing program” but hasn’t gotten on a mound yet. Lou Trivino (elbow sprain), another righty reliever, threw his most recent bullpen Tuesday and is scheduled for a two-up bullpen on Friday. A live session would follow.
Catcher Ben Rortvedt (aneurysm) is close to getting in games.
Boone didn’t have updates on righty reliever Jonathan Loaisiga (elbow inflammation) or right-handed starter Frankie Montas (shoulder surgery).
Backing up Volpe
Rookie Anthony Volpe got the day off on Tuesday. The versatile Oswaldo Cabrera started in his place.
Volpe is off to a slow start offensively after winning the Yankees’ shortstop job in spring training, as he is hitting .129/.250/.194 over his first 10 games. Boone said that the 21-year-old’s numbers didn’t contribute to the off day; the manager had been thinking about getting Volpe some rest on this road trip.
“Nothing more than that,” Boone said.
Boone said that Cabrera isn’t necessarily his go-to backup shortstop, as Isiah Kiner-Falefa remains an option at the position depending on matchups.
