| Carlos Rodón | |
|---|---|
_(cropped).png) Rodón with theNew York Yankees in 2025 | |
| New York Yankees – No. 55 | |
| Pitcher | |
| Born: (1992-12-10)December 10, 1992 (age 32) Miami, Florida, U.S. | |
Bats: Left Throws: Left | |
| MLB debut | |
| April 21, 2015, for the Chicago White Sox | |
| MLB statistics (through 2025 season) | |
| Win–loss record | 93–72 |
| Earned run average | 3.73 |
| Strikeouts | 1,409 |
Stats atBaseball Reference  | |
| Teams | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
Carlos Antonio Rodón (born December 10, 1992) is an American professionalbaseballpitcher for theNew York Yankees ofMajor League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played MLB for theChicago White Sox andSan Francisco Giants. Rodón is a three-timeMLB All-Star.
Rodón playedcollege baseball atNorth Carolina State, and was drafted by the White Sox in the first round, with the third overall pick, of the2014 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut with the White Sox in 2015. On April 14, 2021, Rodón pitched the20th no-hitter in White Sox history, against theCleveland Indians. He entered free agency after the 2021 season, and signed with the Giants. Opting out of his contract with San Francisco after one season, Rodón signed a six-year contract with the Yankees after the 2022 season.
Rodón was born inMiami,Florida.[1] His father immigrated from Cuba in 1967, when he was five years old, and his mother is a Cuban-American. The family moved toHolly Springs, North Carolina, when he was a child.[2]
Rodón attendedHolly Springs High School, and played for the school's baseball team. During his junior year in 2010, he threw ano-hitter, two one-hitters, and fourshutouts. He had a 10–1win–loss record with a 0.80earned run average (ERA) and 115strikeouts and was named all-state by the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association. In 2011, he went 11–0 with a 1.40 ERA and 135 strikeouts, leading Holly Springs to theNorth Carolina 4A state championship over national powerhouseT. C. Roberson High School.[3]
TheMilwaukee Brewers selected Rodón in the 16th round of the2011 Major League Baseball draft. However, he decided not to sign as to attendNorth Carolina State University.[4]
As a freshman for theNC State Wolfpack, in 2012, Rodón went 9–0 with a 1.57 ERA, while setting the NC State freshman record with 135strikeouts (2nd for the season in theAtlantic Coast Conference (ACC) to Duke'sMarcus Stroman's (136), with 43walks in 117innings pitched.[5] He was theNational Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman Pitcher of the Year and anAll-American. He was the first-ever freshman to be named theAtlantic Coast Conference's pitcher of the year,[3] and he was named freshman of the year after leading the NC State Wolfpack to asuper regional.[6][7] In addition, he was a finalist for theGolden Spikes Award[8][9] and was named the Louisville Slugger's National Freshman Pitcher of the Year.[3] He led the ACC in ERA (1.57), innings pitched (114+2⁄3), complete games (2), and opponent'sbatting average (.176), finishing second in the conference and third nationally in strikeouts.[3][10]
In the 2013 season, Rodón led NC State to their firstCollege World Series since 1968. In his sophomore season, Rodón went 10–3 with a 2.99 ERA in 19 starts. He had 184 strikeouts, leadingNCAA Division I; the prior four pitchers to lead the Division with that many strikeouts, three of whom were future major league Cy Young Award winners, wereTim Lincecum,David Price,Stephen Strasburg, andTrevor Bauer.[11][12] He also gave up 45 walks and led the ACC with 16 hit batsmen, and his 12.54 strikeouts per 9 innings led NCAA Division I.[11][12] He threw three complete games in132+1⁄3innings pitched. Rodón's sophomore performance set the NC State single-season record with 184 strikeouts. He was also named ACC Pitcher of the Week back-to-back after recording career-highs of 14 and 16 strikeouts againstFlorida Atlantic University andLa Salle University.[13] He won theUSA BaseballRichard W. "Dick" Case Player of the Year Award in 2013.[14][15]
As a junior, Rodón was 6–7 with a 2.01 ERA, and 117 strikeouts in98+2⁄3 innings, with an ACC-leading 15 hit batsmen.[16] He broke the NC State school record for career strikeouts, which had previously been 386, during an April 11, 2014, game against theDuke Blue Devils.[17] He finished his career with 436 strikeouts.
After his freshman year, Rodón earned a spot onUSA Baseball's Collegiate National Team. Originally, he almost turned down the offer because his coach at North Carolina State University,Elliott Avent, wanted to shut him down for the summer. However, Rodón joined the team because he would have had the opportunity to play inCuba, where his family is from.[18] After his sophomore year,Team USA listed him as a top prospect, and Rodón spent the summer of 2013 playing for Team USA. In two seasons on Team USA, Rodón was 5–0, allowed only three earned runs over 36 innings (0.75 ERA), and contributed 42 strikeouts.[19]
TheChicago White Sox selected Rodón in the first round, third overall, in the2014 Major League Baseball draft.[20] He signed with the White Sox on July 11, for asigning bonus of $6.582 million.[21][22]
He made his professional debut on July 22 with theArizona League White Sox, for whom he pitched three innings. After he pitched 9.2 innings for theWinston-Salem Dash of theClass A-AdvancedCarolina League, the White Sox promoted Rodón to theCharlotte Knights of theClass AAAInternational League, where he debuted on August 19 and for whom he pitched 12 innings.[23] With the three minor league teams in 2014, he was 0-0 with a 3.28 ERA in 24.2 innings in which he struck out 38 batters, averaging 13.9 strikeouts per 9 innings.[16]
On April 20, 2015, Rodón was called up to the White Sox' major league roster.[24] The initial plan was for Rodón to pitch out of the bullpen, the wayChris Sale began his major league career with the White Sox. Rodón made his Major League debut on April 21. He pitched 2.1 innings, giving up two runs, walking three batters, and striking outLonnie Chisenhall.[25] He recorded his first start, and his first win, in the second game of a May 9doubleheader against theCincinnati Reds atUS Cellular Field, giving up two earned runs in six innings on four hits, four walks, and eight strikeouts.[26] In 26 games (23 starts), Rodón finished 9–6 with a 3.75 ERA.
On July 9, 2016, Rodón was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a left wrist sprain.[27] In 28 starts, Rodón finished 9–10 with an ERA of 4.04 in 165 innings, and his 9.164 strikeouts per 9 innings were 7th in the AL.[28]
During the 2017 season, Rodón spent significant time on the disabled list, and was only able to start 12 games. He finished with a 2-5 record in69+1⁄3 innings. He began the 2018 season on the 60-day disabled list with a shoulder injury. He was activated off the disabled list on June 9. He ended the season with a record of 6–8 in 20 starts.
On March 18, 2019, the team announced that Rodón would be the Opening Day starter.[29] On May 15, Rodón underwentTommy John surgery; he missed the rest of the season recovering from the procedure.[30][31] In 2019, Rodón had a 3–2 record in seven starts with 46 strikeouts in34+2⁄3 innings.
With the2020 Chicago White Sox, Rodón appeared in 4 games, compiling an 0–2 record with 8.22 ERA and 6 strikeouts in7+2⁄3 innings pitched.[32] On December 2, Rodón was non-tendered by the White Sox.[33]
On January 30, 2021, Rodón re-signed with the White Sox on a one-year, $3 million contract.[34] On April 14, 2021, Rodónno-hit theCleveland Indians 8-0 atGuaranteed Rate Field. After retiring the first 25 batters, he lost his bid for aperfect game on ahit by pitch toRoberto Pérez. Rodón, who recorded seven strikeouts and threw 75 of 114 pitches for strikes, then retired the next two batters.[35][36] Rodón was originally scheduled to start the first-everMLB at Field of Dreams, but he was not able to start due to left shoulder fatigue.[37] Instead,Lance Lynn replaced Rodón to start for that game. In 2021, Rodón got his first All-Star nod. Rodón finished the regular season with a 13–5 record with an ERA of 2.37 in 24 starts while pitching in132+2⁄3 innings and striking out 185 batters (9th in the AL), for 12.6 strikeouts per 9 innings.[28] His .722 won-loss percentage was 2nd in the league, and his 13 wins were fifth in the AL.[28] Rodón made his first career postseason start in Game 4 of the2021 American League Division Series against the Houston Astros. After pitching a scoreless first inning, he struggled by giving up two runs in his next1+2⁄3 innings as the White Sox lost 10–1 and were eliminated. He came in fifth in the voting for the ALCy Young Award.[38]
On March 14, 2022, Rodón signed a two-year, $44 million contract with theSan Francisco Giants, containing an opt-out clause after the first season.[39] On April 9 atOracle Park, Rodón struck out 12Miami Marlins' batters in five innings. His 12 strikeouts tiedJuan Marichal's team record in the San Francisco Era for the most strikeouts in a Giants debut.[40] On April 15 atProgressive Field, in a 4–1 win over theCleveland Guardians, Rodón won his first start as a Giant by striking out nine batters over seven innings while allowing only two hits. His 21 strikeouts broke Marichal's team record in the San Francisco Era for the most by a Giants pitcher in two appearances to start a season.[41][42][43] On April 20 atCiti Field, in a 5–2 win over theNew York Mets, Rodón struck out eight batters in five innings. His 29 strikeouts brokeCliff Melton's franchise record for the most strikeouts through the first three games of a season.[44] From April 9 to 26, Rodón struck out 38 total batters, which spanned the whole month of April and is the most by a Giants pitcher in his first four appearances of a season since1901.On July 12, 2022, Rodón was named as the MLB All-Star Game roster replacement forJosh Hader.[45]
On September 9, 2022, atWrigley Field, Rodón struck out 11Chicago Cubs batters, reaching double-digits in strikeouts for the 10th time that season. This set a new Giants all-time single season franchise record, previously held byTim Lincecum andJason Schmidt.[46][47]
Rodón came in sixth place in NLCy Young Award voting.[48] On November 6, 2022, Rodón opted out of the second year of his contract and became a free agent.[49]
On December 21, 2022, Rodón signed a six-year, $162 million contract with theNew York Yankees.[50] He began the 2023 season on the injured list due to a muscle strain in his left forearm.[51] His recuperation was delayed by a back injury.[52] On July 7, 2023, he was activated from the injured list to make his Yankees debut.[53] On September 29, in his final start of the season, Rodón allowed eight runs without recording an out. His season concluded with a 3-8 record and a 6.85 ERA in 14 games started.[54]
In 2024, Rodón posted a 16–9 record in 32 starts and a 3.96 ERA with 195 strikeouts in 175 innings.
On March 27, 2025, Rodón was the Opening Day starting pitcher for the2025 Yankees. On that day, he got his first win of the season againstMilwaukee Brewers, pitched 51⁄3 innings, giving up four hits, allowing one earned run, walking two batters, and striking out seven batters in a 4–2 win.[55] On July 11, 2025, Rodón was named as the MLB All-Star Game roster replacement forMax Fried.[56]
In 2025, Rodón posted an 18–9 record in 33 starts and a 3.09 ERA with 203 strikeouts in195+1⁄3 innings. On October 16, following the Yankees' elimination in the postseason, Rodón underwent surgery to remove a bone spur in his left elbow and is not expected to be ready for Opening Day 2026, but will return to the Yankees rotation either in April or early May 2026.[57]
Rodón and his wife, Ashley, were married in January 2018 inCosta Rica.[58][better source needed] They have a daughter and two sons together.[59][60]
· Baseball Almanac| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by | No-hitter pitcher April 14, 2021 | Succeeded by |
