Not everyone survives the Bronx. Some break down, others break records—but most just break. It’s a stage where talent alone gets eaten alive, and ghosts of seasons past heckle louder than the fans. Yet amid the carnage of collapsed careers, one lefty keeps getting back up. Carlos Rodon hasn’t just dodged the dreaded New York Yankees curse—he’s daring it to try harder.

The Yankees are a franchise that will make you feel important, but will also come down on you if you slip up. Rodon is one player who has been feeling the pressure of things for the past few years, but every time there is a doubt, he steps up. And he thanks one person for that winning mentality.

During the latest edition of The Show podcast with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman, Rodon revealed how his parents, mainly his father, helped him during his struggle. He said, “You know, I don’t, I don’t give up. I never really have. It’s just not in my nature. I think it comes from, you know, my dad and my parents and just what, you know, what they had to go through, you know, and what just I don’t know.”

Rodon didn’t inherit velocity—he inherited resolve. That came from his father, not a pitching coach. The no-excuses, never-quit mindset was forged early, long before Yankee pinstripes ever touched his shoulders. In 2025, with a 2.60 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 12 starts, that grit is shining through. His 2023 season was a disaster—3 wins, 6.85 ERA, boos echoing louder than cheers. But quitting? Not in the Rodon bloodline. He rebounded in 2024 with 16 wins and 175 strikeouts, silencing doubters with every pitch. His father’s lessons weren’t about baseball—they were about surviving it.

That’s the thing about Rodon—he’s not just pitching; he’s proving a point with every strike. In a city that chews up the soft and forgets the flashy, he’s made survival an art form. Stats may decorate a season, but legacy is carved in grit. And Rodon? He’s not escaping the Yankees’ curse—he’s rewriting it, one stubborn inning at a time. Some pitchers get advice from their dads. Others get run support. But in the Bronx, Rodon gets something rarer—a strategic upgrade.

Carlos Rodon gets backup for the Yankees with the introduction of Ryan Yarbrough

The Yankees, never ones for subtlety, have made a move that screams, “We’re serious.” With the rotation under scrutiny and October dreams looming, New York is finally backing Rodon with more than just hope. And yes, it involves a lefty who knows how to keep hitters guessing. Rodon’s journey with the Yankees hasn’t been smooth—it’s been more like a rollercoaster in pinstripes. Injuries, inconsistency, and sky-high expectations nearly turned cheers into groans. Through it all, Rodon leaned on his grit—and occasionally, fatherly wisdom—to survive the storm. Now, the clouds are parting, and the Yankees are finally giving him more than just faith.

The Yankees aren’t just talking about contention; they’re making tangible moves to prove it. Backing Rodon means stabilizing the rotation, not just hoping for brilliance every fifth day. And that’s where Ryan Yarbrough enters the picture—quietly effective, left-handed, and criminally underrated.

Yarbrough isn’t flashy, but he’s exactly what this rotation needs: reliability wrapped in calm. With a 3.00 ERA as a starter, he balances the high-octane arms around him. His presence gives Rodon breathing room and Boone a flexible chess piece. For once, Rodon isn’t carrying the load alone—and the Yankees are better for it.

Rodon’s no longer the lone ace battling chaos with a mustache and a prayer. The Yankees have built him a proper fortress—finally. With Yarbrough in the mix, the rotation isn’t just deeper; it’s smarter. Headlines don’t win October baseball—arms like these do. And for once, the Bronx might have both the firepower and the foresight to go all the way.