Rodón's Elbow Nearly Ready: Yankees Rotation About to Get Its Ace Back

Carlos Rodón is knocking on the door. After undergoing left elbow surgery back in October, the Yankees' ace is wrapping up his minor league rehab and could be back in pinstripes within days. Manager Aaron Boone dropped the news before New York faced the Rangers at Yankee Stadium: Rodón's next start might actually be in the majors.

Rodón's Path Back on Track

Rodón took another step forward Tuesday with a Triple-A rehab start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Worcester. He went 6 1/3 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits with two homers and two walks while striking out four. Not a perfect outing, sure, but he threw 49 of 83 pitches for strikes, which is what matters when you're working your way back from surgery.

Through three minor league rehab starts total, Rodón has a 3.38 ERA, permitting seven runs (six earned) over 16 innings. The timeline is clear: when Rodón gets the green light, he's likely heading straight into the Yankees' rotation during their series against the Brewers in Milwaukee. That spot will come from right-hander Elmer Rodríguez, who made his second big league start Tuesday against the Rangers.

Cole Still Has Weeks to Go

Rodón isn't the only Yankees starter climbing back from the injury list. Gerrit Cole made his fourth minor league rehab start Tuesday for High-A Hudson Valley, throwing 4 1/3 innings against Winston-Salem. He allowed five runs on seven hits while striking out four, working through 69 pitches with 49 for strikes.

But here's the thing: Cole is further away than Rodón. Boone said Cole remains "a little bit of a ways away" from returning to action. The Yankees are forecasting Cole's comeback for late May or early June. Cole's been recovering from Tommy John surgery performed back in March 2025, so the patience makes sense even if nobody's thrilled about waiting.

Other Injury Notes

Beyond the rotation updates, the Yankees are managing a couple other concerns. First baseman Ben Rice, sidelined with a left hand contusion after taking an awkward throw on Sunday, missed a second straight game but said improvement is coming. He planned to take some indoor swings Tuesday and hopes to be available off the bench soon.

Giancarlo Stanton has yet to resume running as he deals with a right calf strain. Boone said Stanton has been hitting indoors and noted it still feels minor, but "he's not ready to push it yet."

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.