The New York Yankees’ starting rotation has been hit with several setbacks, including Gerrit Cole being sidelined for the entire 2025 season due to Tommy John surgery and Luis Gil dealing with a lat injury that will keep him out for several weeks. In response, the Yankees have turned to left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon to take the mound for Opening Day, instead of their offseason big signing, Max Fried.
For Rodon, this marks only the second time in his career that he will start on Opening Day, with his first opportunity coming in 2019 while with the Chicago White Sox. Despite the honor, Rodon maintains a grounded perspective, acknowledging that while it’s exciting, it’s simply another game in a long season.
“It’s just an honor; I’m excited. I just want to go out there and win the game. Honestly, it’s just the first game of the season and another baseball game,” Rodon said, as reported by Bryan Hoch of MLB.com.
- Carlos Rodon
Indeed, while every team aims to start the season with a win, it’s crucial to remember that the first game only represents a small fraction of the 162-game grind. Rodon is fully aware that only 0.06 percent of the season is covered by that opening game.
As the Yankees take on the Milwaukee Brewers on March 27 to kick off their 2025 campaign, Rodon will be eager to deliver a strong performance. Given the injuries to key pitchers, the Yankees are relying on their internal options to step up.
While general manager Brian Cashman has expressed a desire to add an ace-caliber pitcher, he has also acknowledged the lack of affordable trade options. With expectations high for Rodon and Fried, and the back-end of the rotation filled with uncertainty, the Yankees are hoping for big contributions from their pitchers, including Clarke Schmidt, Marcus Stroman, and Will Warren.
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