Carlos Rodon’s final outing of 2023 symbolized his lost season.
He failed to get out of the first inning against the Royals, lit up for eight earned runs without recording an out.
He completed his first year as a Yankee with a 6.85 ERA.
There was one bonus to the frustrating campaign.
“I was obviously very frustrated with my performance,” Rodon recalled. “It made me hungrier going into the offseason. … I was just really focused, just determined.”
Rodon certainly has pitched with a chip on his shoulder, reminding everyone why the Yankees gave him that six-year, $162 million contract.
He continued his strong season Wednesday night, retiring the first 16 Twins he faced in a 9-5 victory in The Bronx.
After allowing two earned runs over six innings while striking out a season-high nine, Rodon now boasts a 3.08 ERA and a sparkling 8-2 record.
He has won the last six times he has taken the ball, and has gone at least six innings on each occasion. In that span, he has a 2.48 ERA.
For the first five-plus innings, Rodon was unhittable, and he mixed his pitches well.
Rodon relied heavily on his slider and four-seam fastball.
Of his 100 pitches, 74 were either a slider or four-seamer.
He retired 16 in a row to start the game before Carlos Santana laced a 1-1, 96 mph fastball over the fence in right field.
It ended Rodon’s bid for a perfect game.
“Obviously in the back of my head, I knew it was there,” he said. “I just kept pitching, I tried to get through six or seven. I made it through my six and did my job and the boys swung the bat well and we won today.”
So much went wrong last year for Rodon and the Yankees.
He didn’t make his debut until July 7 due to multiple injuries.
The team struggled, managing just 82 wins, its fewest since 1995.
This season, however, Rodon is delivering and the Yankees are tied with the Phillies for the best record in the sport at 44-19.
“You know, we want to write a script on somebody so often. One thing Reggie Jackson used to always say to me is that the bat, that was his pen,” manager Aaron Boone said. “He could always change the narrative. He could always write the final story. And in sports, sports is about overcoming things. … You go through times in your career where you get your lunch handed to you, but that doesn’t have to be the end of the story.”
It wasn’t for Carlos Rodon in The Bronx.
He’s creating a new narrative for himself this season.