The New York Yankees entered this season with championship aspirations, but their pitching plans have quickly spiraled into chaos. Ace Gerrit Cole is sidelined with elbow inflammation, and the team missed out on acquiring big-name stars this season. Could a surprising star emerge from this storm? Carlos Rodón, after a rocky debut season in pinstripes, is starting to look like the answer.

Rodón’s latest strong outing even caught the eye of a legend. A feel-good moment, capped by Joe Torre taking the ball, is encouraging news amidst the team’s injury frustrations. But in the Bronx, feel-good moments are fleeting. Can Rodón deliver the consistency the Yankees desperately need throughout the season—or will he prove to be another flash in the pan?

Rodón’s Spring Training outing on Monday, March 18th (96.4 mph max velo, 72 hitless pitches) and a visit from legend Joe Torre offer hope amidst the Yankees’ injury crisis.

In a recent interview for The New York Post, Rodón said, “It’s coming along. Just keep building confidence. Today was another good step.” If his velocity uptick and the ability to dominate a less-than-stellar Philadelphia Phillies lineup are any indication, the confidence might be justified.

However, the question hanging over Steinbrenner Field is whether this is a flash in the pan or if Carlos Rodón can truly step up as the lead anchor for a rotation in flux. After all, his past is a rollercoaster ride of injuries paired with brilliance and frustration.

After back-to-back All-Star seasons with the Chicago White Sox and the San Francisco Giants, his first year in New York was marred by inconsistency and ended with a blowup against pitching coach Matt Blake. A lucrative $162 million contract carries hefty expectations, and the pressure is mounting.

Read More: Carlos Rodón Faces the Pressure, Yankees’ Star Pitcher Buzz Grows Amidst Gerrit Cole’s Injury Update

The Yankees’ manager, Aaron Boone, remains publicly measured about Rodón. “I want him to focus, get ready, go to the post… If he keeps doing that and where he’s at, in the end he’ll be successful,” Boone told The Post. ‘

The Bombers missed out on top pitching talent this offseason, so the pressure on their rotation is no surprise.

Yankees’ Rotation: The pressure is on

The Yankees are scrambling in the wake of losing Blake Snell to the Giants and Dylan Cease to the San Diego Padres. These missed opportunities pile onto the uncertainty of how long their ace, Gerrit Cole, will be out for his elbow issues, leaving Carlos Rodón as the most experienced and reliable arm on the roster.

The front office might be hoping for some late spring miracles, but for now, Rodón is the best chance the Bombers have for stability. Given his comments in the Post report, he definitely knows that Torre wasn’t the only legend taking notes off of his start.

Read More: Yankees’ Margin for Error in 2024 Shrinks Dramatically Without Ace Gerrit Cole

The team desperately needs good news, and Carlos Rodón has the potential to be that news. It’s far too early to crown him as the team’s savior. But this latest encouraging outing, particularly under the watchful eye of Joe Torre, suggests that the ace may be ready to turn his expensive gamble into a much-needed win for the Yankees.