If there was an award for the most unfortunate debut, Carlos Rodon would probably be one finalist. Arriving in the New York Yankees with much fanfare, no one could have predicted the unfolding events in his debut season. Amidst a struggling Yankees team, Rodon emerged as the most significant factor in their challenges. It was a time that Rodon would want to forget and as of now; he is succeeding in that quest.

The fall of Rodon was an alarming sign for the Yankees. The team had already experienced an expensive signing, losing its powers under their watch in Giancarlo Stanton. So having another one would’ve risked breaking their back. Yet if one has to go by the words of the manager Aaron Boone, that risk might be worth taking.

New York Yankees manager finds hope in the tragedy

The Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone is in a precarious situation. The team had its worst season since 1992 under him. The fans are angry; the payroll is humongous, and expectations are skyrocketing. In an interview with famous insider Jon Heyman, Boone shared how he’s planning to tackle all of this through his lineups and team selection. When asked about Carlos Rodon, Boone showed his complete support for the pitcher.

Pointing out how Rodon entered the season already injured and then his back got injured, Boone said that the pitcher had to play “catch up” all year long. Not just because of his injuries, but also because Rodon was a new signee with a big contract. Though bad performances affected Rodon mentally, it proved to be positive. It can all be attributed to his working hard and planning on improving his style to not repeat the issues of 2023. 

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Saying that the fire was visible inside Rodon, Boone gave important advice to the Yankees’ upcoming comeback star. “I’m excited where he’s at and my biggest message to Carlos is, do everything you need to do to make sure you’re ready to go to the post every 5th or 6th day,” said Boone. For that, Rodon will have to stay healthy and recent signs show that he may have found a way.

Carlos Rodon regains shape as the training begins

A few days ago, some pictures of Rodon went viral. While one knew that he was training hard to stage a strong comeback, what was surprising was how slim the pitcher looked. Perhaps to lower pressure on his back, Rodon has reduced much of his weight. This sent the Yankee Nation into a frenzy, with fans saying that Rodon is on his way to winning the ‘Comeback of the Year’ award in 2024.

There’s a long time for that, but one can hope that the pitcher returns to his best in the pinstripes. Expectations are huge, but more importantly, Rodon at his best is a delight to watch, and baseball needs such entertainment.

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