The New York Yankees will send left-handed starting pitcher Carlos Rodon on a minor league rehab assignment Saturday.
Rodon, who last appeared in the majors on June 28 before hitting the IL with left elbow inflammation, will throw around 50 pitches on Saturday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
According to manager Aaron Boone, an early return for Rodon in a piggyback scenario is a distinct possibility.
“I think he’s close to 50, not quite 50 pitches tomorrow, and I think we’ll definitely, probably piggyback him at some point,” Boone told reporters before the Yankees’ series opener Friday against the Atlanta Braves. “It’s just, do we have him do one more and then do the piggyback at whatever pitch count he’s at? That’s the most likely right now.”
New York just did that with left-hander Max Fried, who returned earlier than expected from a bruised left elbow. When the Yankees had a rainout July 21 and a doubleheader against the Pittsburgh Pirates was arranged for July 22, they brought Fried back early to start the nightcap on a restricted pitch count.
Rodon, who had surgery last October to remove loose bodies from his pitching elbow, received platelet-rich plasma injections while on the IL. His season debut was delayed until May 10 due to a right hamstring issue in spring training.
The 33-year-old was 4-2 with a 3.30 ERA in nine starts before being placed on the IL. In 12 seasons with the Chicago White Sox (2015-21), San Francisco Giants (2022) and Yankees (2023-26), the three-time All-Star is 97-74 with a 3.72 ERA, 1,461 strikeouts and 503 walks.
The Yankees did not address pitching at the trade deadline, either the starting rotation or the bullpen. New York’s rotation, currently featuring Gerrit Cole, Cam Schlittler, Will Warren, Ryan Weathers and Fried, is third in MLB with a 3.48 ERA.
