When Gerrit Cole was officially shut down with a right elbow injury this spring, the Yankees’ season didn’t just lose its anchor, it lost its identity. Cole wasn’t just the ace of the rotation; he was the team’s tone-setter, a presence so routine and dominant that his absence felt surreal. The Bronx buzzed with uncertainty. The headlines screamed about how the Yankees would survive without their Cy Young winner. Inside the clubhouse, however, the players were forced to quietly recalibrate.

That’s when Carlos Rodon’s reality changed. Thrust into the de facto ace role, the left-hander, who had endured a brutal 2023 campaign after signing a $162 million deal. Despite a turnaround in 2024, he knew the spotlight would be intense. His comeback wasn’t just personal anymore. It was strategic. It was symbolic. And it came with expectations that had only grown heavier in Cole’s shadow. But Rodón, in typical understated fashion, didn’t flinch. He didn’t try to play hero, and he didn’t sugarcoat what losing Cole meant.

“It’s just one of those things,” Rodón said. “Obviously, it’s tough not having Gerrit this year. And I mean, so what could have been this year with him? You know, where would we be now? But that’s so hindsight, and that’s behind us.”

It’s an honest response, part disappointment, part realism. Rodón doesn’t deny the hole Cole left behind, but he also doesn’t spiral into what-ifs. Instead, he embraces the moment with a calm edge, embodying the ‘next man up’ mentality. “It doesn’t change my mindset,” he said. “You do your job.” That’s what matters.

Instead of leaning into hypotheticals, Rodón has leaned into opportunity. His stuff looks sharper, his command more precise, and his fire unmistakable. In the absence of Cole, he’s not trying to be a carbon copy, just the best version of himself. “And I think [Cole’s] going to be pretty good for a long time after this, for sure,” Rodón added.

That’s the kind of belief this Yankees rotation is trying to run on: steady, unflashy, and quietly determined.

Gerrit Cole’s replacement’s redemption season in full swing

Carlos Rodón walked into 2025 with a chip on his shoulder and something to prove. After a brutal 2023 debut in pinstripes, marked by boos, a bloated ERA, and public scrutiny, many questioned whether the Yankees had made a $162 million mistake. 2024 was better. He appeared to have settled in and assimilated the expectations of the organization and the fans, and his numbers improved. Then Gerrit Cole went down, and suddenly, Rodón wasn’t just expected to rebound; he was expected to lead. And rather than shy away from that spotlight, the lefty has grabbed the narrative and flipped it on its head.

He wasted no time making a statement. On April 18 against the Rays, Rodón delivered his first true gem of the year, six shutout innings, nine strikeouts, and just two hits allowed in a tight 1-0 Yankees win. The fastball was electric, topping out at 97 mph, and the crowd at Yankee Stadium buzzed with a sense of, finally. Just over a week later, on April 29, Rodón flirted with perfection through five innings against the Orioles before finishing with seven strikeouts across six dominant frames. The command was crisp, the tempo was assertive, and the swagger, the good kind, was back.

By the time May came around, Rodon wasn’t just putting together great performances but was proving again that he’s a force to be reckoned with as one of the top left-handed pitchers in baseball. During a game against Oakland on May 10, he managed to strike out 10 batters in six innings, dominating the A’s lineup with a combination of fastballs and sliders. This wasn’t the tentative, inconsistent version of Rodón from last season. This was the bulldog the Yankees thought they were getting, a guy who doesn’t just pitch, but sets a tone.

Rodon isn’t trying to replace Gerrit Cole. He knows better. “You want him on the mound. He’s so dynamic and great for us,” he said. “He wins a lot of games.” But what Rodón is doing is exactly what the Yankees needed: showing up, locking in, and making sure the rotation doesn’t fall apart without its ace. He’s not just regaining trust, he’s leading from the front, one fiery outing at a time.