Carlos Rodon Is Back and the Yankees Need Him Right Now to Stop the Bleeding in Milwaukee

The New York Yankees pulled All-Star left-hander Carlos Rodon off his minor league rehab assignment on Sunday and activated him from the 15-day injured list. Translation: he's taking the ball against Milwaukee and New York is desperate to avoid getting swept in this three-game series. This is the moment we find out if Rodon's arm is actually ready.

What Happened to Rodon and Why He's Been Gone

Back on October 15, days after the Yankees' season ended, Rodon had surgery on his left elbow. Doctors removed loose particles and reduced a bone spur. At 33 years old, that's the kind of procedure that makes you hold your breath a little. But this guy came back before, and he knows the drill.

Last season, Rodon posted a 18-9 record across 33 starts (a career high) with a 3.09 ERA. He made the All-Star team. He struck out 203 batters, finished 10th in baseball, and posted a 1.05 WHIP. At home, opposing hitters batted just .154 against him, the best mark in MLB. The postseason? Yeah, that was rough. Nine runs allowed in 8 1/3 innings across two starts. But before that surgery, this guy was rolling.

The Rehab Stretch and What We Saw

Rodon made three minor league rehab starts with no decisions and a 3.38 ERA. Then came his final tune-up on Tuesday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and it got ugly fast. Six runs allowed (five earned), seven hits, 83 pitches, 6 1/3 innings. He walked two and struck out four. Not exactly the vibe you want heading back to the majors.

"This being probably my third time through a lengthy rehab process, I have some experience, although most people don't want to really say that," Rodon told the New York Post on Saturday. "Just leaning back on those times and working on the craft and trying to get back here and help the team."

Here's the good news: against Milwaukee specifically, Rodon is 2-1 with a 2.42 ERA in five career starts. He's beaten the Brewers in his last two matchups, allowing just two runs on six hits across 11 1/3 innings. He enters his 12th MLB season and fourth with the Yankees. In his career, he's 93-72 with a 3.73 ERA and has fanned 1,409 batters.

To make room, the Yankees optioned right-hander Kervin Castro to Triple-A. Castro appeared in just one game, surrendering one earned run in two innings during Friday's 6-0 loss to Milwaukee.

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