NEW YORK – There are no forests in which it’s acceptable to swing an axe here in the South Bronx, yet for more than a calendar year, Carlos Rodón has found himself in the business of “chopping wood.” Within the Yankees’ clubhouse walls, the phrase serves as a short-hand reminder to show up with grit, purpose and tenacity.
It’s voiced most frequently by Aaron Boone; in a light moment recently, someone pointed out that the manager doesn’t seem to use it for anyone else on his roster. Boone chuckled and shrugged; with Rodón, the term just seems to fit. The club’s resident lefty lumberjack continued to hack away on Thursday, hurling six scoreless innings in a 1-0 victory over the Rangers at Yankee Stadium.
“He’s been saying it a lot. It’s kind of his thing with me: ‘Just go out there and go to work,’” Rodón said, with a knowing grin. “‘Show up, get on the mound and keep posting.’ That’s it. I want to go out there and get as many outs as I can – just keep your head down, and keep going.”
He’s following the plan perfectly. Rodón’s strong effort lowered his season ERA to 2.88, leading the Yankees to their third series sweep of the season (also March 27-30 vs. Milwaukee and April 14-16 vs. Kansas City). New York has won 11 of its past 14 games, moving a season-high 11 games over .500 (30-19).
Though the Yankees have outscored opponents 86-42 over those 14 contests, this one saw them squeak by with the slimmest of margins. Jorbit Vivas rounded the bases for his first Major League home run, a fifth-inning shot off right-hander Nathan Eovaldi.
Vivas was thrilled to learn the Yankees reacquired the ball. He plans to send it home to his family in Venezuela, saying, “They’ve been there for me since I was a little kid.”
The keepsake represented all the support Rodón would receive -- and all he’d need, handcuffing Texas on two hits.
Rodón walked two and struck out eight, bounding off the mound barrel-chested after his 105th pitch generated an inning-ending whiff of Jake Burger. Catcher J.C. Escarra pointed his glove in Rodón’s direction, as if to say: “You’re the man.”
“I don’t think he shook off one pitch; he trusted me calling the whole game,” Escarra said. “We wanted them to put the ball in play, to put soft contact on the ground or in the air. We try to chase those punchouts, but when they’re not there, we’re getting outs. That’s what is most important.”
After a clunky first four starts (1-3, 5.48 ERA), Rodón has been dominant, posting a 5-0 record and 1.47 ERA over his past seven. If you think that sounds like the results of “chopping wood,” well, Boone would agree.
“I just want him to focus on what that day is, the work. It’s in and around a really solid routine that he’s built the last couple of years,” Boone said. “It’s not even focusing on the result of the outing, because those from time to time are going to be fleeting. If he focuses on what he needs to, day in and day out … those results are going to continue to be there. And he’s been excellent.”
Boone’s attempt to influence Rodón’s inner monologue began after an injury-marred, frustrating first season in pinstripes back in 2023, after which the hurler opted to spend time decompressing in -- appropriately enough -- a remote Missouri cabin.
Refreshed to bounce back in 2024, Rodón focused on taking the ball each turn, registering a career-high 32 starts. Not only reliable, he’s more complete, too.
“I love when he pitches,” said Luke Weaver, who pitched the ninth for his seventh save. “Every time he goes, he just grinds. He just finds a way. He’s throwing 100-plus pitches, he’s fighting on the mound, like, ‘Don’t take the ball.’”
On the day of Rodón’s introductory press conference in Yankee Stadium’s basement, he’d scoffed with bravado at the suggestion of needing more than a fastball and slider to handle the American League East.
Rodón believed he could dominate with what had worked previously; that was why the Yankees gave him $162 million, wasn’t it? If 2023 served as the lesson, ‘24 marked a shift, and the dividends have carried into ’25. Said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy: “They signed him for a reason, and you saw it.”
“In the past, I tried to overpower guys,” Rodón said. “This year has been a little different; a little more finesse, trying to get to locations. Everybody [in the Majors] can hit a 97 or 98 mph fastball. When I get up on the mound and I try to overpower a guy in the middle of the zone, they’re going to hit it. They’re ready for it.”
In handling the Rangers, Rodón used 38 sliders and 37 four-seam fastballs while mixing up the selection with 21 changeups and nine curveballs. That strikeout of Burger, for example? A changeup, and it was a beauty.
“I don’t know if you noticed, but the slider, we weren’t getting the strikeouts with two strikes,” Escarra said. “But we were able to go to the changeup, second, third time through the lineup. We started using the curveball early in the count. Now he has four pitches that he can use at any time. It’s no wonder he’s having the success he’s having.”
So what comes next? At this point, Rodón doesn’t ask; he’s certain it’ll come up again within the next five days or so. Just keep chopping.
“I’ve been so fortunate with our coaching staff. The Yankees are so great with pitchers,” Rodón said. “They’ve handed me the tools to be successful, with pitch design and usage. I’m just grateful for it.”