Starting pitcher Carlos Rodón’s first season with the Yankees has been one to forget. Friday’s late-season start against the Royals brings his year to a close on a particularly sour note.
Facing Kansas City, one of baseball’s worst teams at 54–105, Rodón failed to record a single out before being pulled in the first inning. He ended up being charged with eight earned runs on six hits and two walks after he left the bases loaded and all three runners went on to score in the inning.
Rodón left the game after throwing just 35 pitches to eight batters, with the Yankees trailing 5–0. Reliever Matt Bowman didn’t fare much better, allowing the three runners he inherited from Rodón to score, along with a ninth run on a sacrifice fly. 14 total batters came to the plate for Kansas City in the first inning.
Carlos Rodón with one of the worst starts in MLB history pic.twitter.com/tQCcxSJ2pz
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 30, 2023
Rodón’s early exit caps a rough first season in pinstripes for the veteran lefty. The former White Sox pitcher made the NL All-Star team with the Giants last year and was New York’s major offseason acquisition, signing a six-year, $162 million deal over the winter.
He dealt with a number of injuries to open his season, with a spring training forearm strain initially sidelining him, and back issues pushing his first start back to July.
Rodón was never able to fully recover and slot in as the Yankees’ No. 2 behind Cy Young favorite Gerrit Cole, though. He posted a 3–7 mark on the year, and Friday’s rough start balloons his 2023 ERA to 6.86 in 14 starts.
New York has the 30-year-old under contract through the 2028 season.
