Yankees left hand Carlos Rodon will start the season on the injured list, the latest blow to New York’s starting rotation before Opening Day.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman announced Thursday that Rodon, the franchise’s prize free agent pitching signing, has a left forearm strain and will not throw for seven to 10 days before being reevaluated.
“In a perfect world, he’d come back sometime in April,” Cashman said.
Cashman said the injury was “something, but not significant or serious,” and noted that there was no damage to the ulnar collateral ligament in Rodon’s elbow.
The Yankees made a big investment in Rodon this offseason, agreeing to a six-year, $162 million deal in an attempt to bolster their rotation. Rodon made his spring debut for the Yankees on Sunday, allowing five runs on six hits — including two home runs — and one walk while striking out two in two-plus innings.
Rodon previously underwent Tommy John in 2019 and did not miss the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. The 2022 season marks only the second year of Rodon’s career in which he pitched more than 140 innings, the first coming in 2016.
When healthy, Rodon has been one of the best pitchers in baseball, posting a 2.67 ERA, 2.42 FIP and 0.998 WHIP over the past two seasons.
The injury dealt a significant blow to a short-handed Yankees rotation. Right-hander Frankie Montas underwent right labrum cleanup surgery last month and is expected to miss a significant portion of the 2023 season.
Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendinitis) and Lou Trivino (elbow sprain) will also start the season on the injured list.