Carlos Rodon made his first rehab start Tuesday night, with Double-A Somerset, in his most significant step yet toward finally joining the Yankees’ rotation.
And on Bark at the Park Day at TD Bank Ballpark in Bridgewater, N.J., Rodon pitched like the dog the Yankees envisioned, and are anxiously waiting to have at their disposal.
The 30-year-old lefty tossed 42 pitches over three innings.
He allowed one earned run, one hit, one walk and struck out five during the Patriots’ clash against the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
It was Rodon’s first regular-season outing at any level this year due to a forearm muscle strain and back discomfort.
Rodon fell behind the first two batters he faced, surrendering a walk and a single.
But he quickly regrouped, forcing the third batter he faced, Damiano Palmegiani to hit into a double play.
A run scored on the play, however, to sink Rodon and the Patriots into a quick 1-0 deficit.
Rodon struck out Will Robertson to end the first inning. He then struck out two as he breezed through a 1-2-3 second inning.
After throwing 31 pitches — Patriots pitching coach Grayson Crawford said before the game they were targeting around 40 pitches — Rodon came back for a dominant third inning.
He struck out two in another 1-2-3 inning to finish his promising evening. Rodon threw 27 of his 42 pitches for strikes.
Rodon signed with the Yankees on a lucrative six-year, $162 million contract this past offseason.
The Yankees’ most expensive offseason addition, Rodon was expected to be a staple in their rotation.
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But he has been sidelined and on the injured list since spring training with the injuries.
Rodon was shut down in early March with the left forearm strain, and Yankees manager Aaron Boone initially targeted a return for “some time in April.”
As Rodon began taking his first steps toward returning, however, the back injury flared up, which he said doctors told him is a chronic issue.
Rodon received a cortisone shot in his back amid setbacks in early May, and reports briefly emerged that he might not be able to pitch for the Yankees this season at all.
He has made encouraging progress in his rehab, though, most recently throwing two simulated innings and 36 pitches during a live batting-practice session last Thursday at Somerset.
Rodon’s command and velocity in that third live batting practice session — and the lack of any physical red flags — prompted the Yankees to feel comfortable pushing Rodon to this next step in his rehab.
The start Tuesday was the first of three planned rehab outings before the Yankees hope Rodon can join the major league roster.
Though Rodon only endured one brief stint on the injured list the past two seasons, he has a long injury history.
The White Sox non-tendered Rodon two years ago while he struggled to return from a 2019 Tommy John surgery, and he previously has dealt with shoulder and elbow injuries.
The Yankees’ rotation has held its own without Rodon, with a 4.37 staff ERA from starters that is tied for 14th-best in MLB, but his looming return comes at a needed time.
The Yankees currently are operating with a four-man rotation because Nestor Cortes remains on the IL with a shoulder injury, and they’ll need a fifth starter by this weekend.
Without Cortes, the Yankees’ don’t currently have a lefty in their rotation.
If Tuesday was any indication, though, the Yankees will get their most-prized offseason acquisition back sooner rather than later.
