Carlos Rodón, a pitcher for the New York Yankees, never gives up — and it’s showing in his performance this season.
Since revamping his pitching arsenal to include a curveball, sinker, and changeup, Rodón has had a standout start. Among American League starters, he has allowed the fewest hits per nine innings and has posted an 8-3 record, a 2.49 ERA, and a 0.93 WHIP.
Despite his impressive individual results, Rodón has his eyes on something more — a trait he admires in a teammate.
Carlos Rodón Wants Max Fried’s Ability To Go Deep Into Games
Since fellow left-hander Max Fried signed an eight-year, $218 million contract with the Yankees, the two have become close friends. While both are key pieces in New York’s rotation, Rodón said there’s one part of Fried’s game he wishes he had.
In an interview with The Daily News, Rodón explained what sets Fried apart.
“That’s new for me,” Rodón said. “It’s something I’m not used to. That’s what Max does. He relies on weak contact and goes deep into games. I would love to do that.”
Even without Fried’s pitch-to-contact approach, the 32-year-old Rodón is thriving.
Yankees rotation through 62 games this season:
Max Fried, 1.78 ERA Carlos Rodon, 2.49 ERA Clarke Schmidt, 4.04 ERA Will Warren, 5.34 ERA Ryan Yarbrough, 2.83 ERA
Pitching staff has been stellar without their ace. pic.twitter.com/rHMclKQaiu— The Yankee Report (@YankeeReport_) June 7, 2025
When it was announced that Gerrit Cole would miss the entire season due to injury, many Yankees fans assumed the team’s World Series hopes had vanished.
Rodón never got that memo.
Despite Cole’s absence, Rodón’s dominance over his first 13 starts has given the Yankees renewed postseason confidence.
Carlos Rodón Finally Looks Comfortable in Pinstripes
His most recent gem — a 3-2 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday, June 3 — was just the latest example. Rodón struck out eight over seven innings, using a full mix of pitches to keep hitters off balance.
The win marked his eighth of the year and continued a trend: Rodón finally looks at home in New York.
That’s a far cry from 2023, when Rodón, after signing a lucrative free agent deal, struggled and was often booed by fans. This year, he’s flipped the script.
Rodón is striking out 11.07 batters per nine innings — his highest mark since joining the Yankees — while keeping the ball in the park with just 0.9 home runs allowed per nine.
Carlos Rodon’s 2025 season through 13 starts:
2.0 fWAR
2.49 ERA
2.94 FIP
31.6% K%
0.93 WHIPPitching like an absolute ace this season. What a turnaround. pic.twitter.com/NH5YyAJZyA
— Ryan Garcia (@RyanGarciaESM) June 4, 2025
Proving he can stay healthy and maintain this form throughout the regular season will be crucial for Rodón and the Yankees. But if the early results are any indication, New York might have found its new ace — and one who isn’t afraid to evolve.