Rodon's Elbow Surgery Rehab Rolls On: 4 and a Third Scoreless Innings in First High-A Start

Carlos Rodon is getting closer. The Yankees left-hander threw 4⅓ scoreless innings Friday night in his first rehab outing with High-A Hudson Valley, allowing just one hit while striking out four and walking one. He's coming back from left elbow surgery last October, and this outing is a solid step in the right direction.

The Setback That Delayed Everything

Here's the thing: Rodon opened the 2026 season on the 15-day injured list as he recovered from that elbow procedure. But in late March, things got complicated. The 33-year-old felt tightness in his right hamstring while throwing at the Yankees' complex in Florida, which pushed back his timeline. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Friday's game in Houston that he expected Rodon to have a pitch count in the mid-60s for this rehab start. Rodon threw 43 of his 65 pitches for strikes, so he's working efficiently out there.

What the Surgery Actually Was

Back on October 15, Rodon had surgery to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur. It's his fourth year with the Yankees after he went 18-9 in a previous season. Getting him back healthy matters for New York's rotation depth as the season gets rolling.

Watch for updates on Rodon's next outing. The Yankees are going to need him fully stretched out and ready to pitch, and this first rehab start shows he's still capable of missing bats and keeping the ball down.

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