Yankees' Rodon Allows Six Runs in Rehab Start, Eyes Weekend Debut in Milwaukee

New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon allowed six runs, five of them earned, and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings during his third minor league rehabilitation start for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday, ESPN reported. 11 ERA in his three starts at Triple-A.

He allowed a two-run homer to Mickey Gasper on his changeup in the first inning and a solo homer to Kristian Campbell on a slider in the sixth inning in a 7-6 loss at Worcester.

Manager Aaron Boone said Rodon will likely make his major league season debut over the weekend in Milwaukee before the Yankees opened a three-game series with Texas. Rodon opened the season on the 15-day injured list as he recovered from surgery on October 15 to remove loose bodies in his left elbow and shave a bone spur.

He had a setback in late March when he felt tightness in his right hamstring while throwing at the Yankees' complex in Florida.

The left-hander signed a $162 million, six-year contract with the Yankees in December 2022. Rodon has won 34 games in the past two seasons. After struggling through injuries in 2023, he has shown progress in his recovery this year.

At the same time as Rodon's start, Gerrit Cole made his fourth minor league start for High-A Hudson Valley as he returns from reconstructive elbow surgery on March 11, 2025, ESPN reported. Cole allowed six runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings while throwing 69 pitches against Winston-Salem. He allowed solo homers to Caleb Bonemer and Kyle Lodise while also getting four strikeouts.

Cole is expected to need a few more minor league starts before making his season debut and first appearance since Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers. The Yankees have targeted a return in late May or early June for the 2023 AL Cy Young winner Gerrit Cole. In the same game as Rodon's start, Anthony Volpe went 2-for-4.

The Yankees opted to send Volpe to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after his 20-day rehab window expired on Sunday following October 14 surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Volpe went 11-for-44 with one homer and six RBIs in 13 minor league games. Volpe ended his rehab assignment in a 1-for-11 slide.

222 average with 52 homers, 192 RBIs and 70 stolen bases over three seasons. 212 average last year was 144th among 145 qualifiers, and his play was hampered after he hurt his left shoulder on May 3.