Carlos Rodon's adjustment to the New York Yankees has been a "blur"
Carlos Rodon is undergoing a crash course on how to play for the New York Yankees. It involves far more media interaction than the 30-year old left-hander is used to.
Rodon signed with the Yankees in December. His six-year deal worth $162 million is a clear vote of confidence by the team in a man they hope will be a foundation starter.
Similar to other players who have arrived at the hallowed press boxes of Yankee Stadium, it was all a lot for Rodon. The pitcher, who makes his home in rural Indiana, isn't used to much fuss.
“It just feels like a blur."
What's it like the first time a new Yankee dons pinstripes?
@BrendanKutyNJ asked around and found that players are in awe.
As manager Aaron Boone told a newcomer, “Welcome to The Dark Side."
theathletic.com/4266224/2023/0…
"'It just feels like a blur.' What's it like the first time a new Yankee dons pinstripes? Brendan Kuty asked around and found that players are in awe. As manager Aaron Boone told a newcomer, 'Welcome to The Dark Side.'" The Athletic MLB tweeted.
In a recent piece for The Athletic, writer Brendan Kuty profiled players' stories about their first few days as a Yankee. Carlos Rodon recounted how he needed to shave his beard to fall in line with the team's policy banning facial hair and how all the news conferences he has done so far at Yankee Stadium feel like a "blur."
Drafted by the Chicago White Sox, Rodon spent the first six seasons of his career pitching in Chicago. It wasn't until he signed a two-year deal worth $44 million with the San Francisco Giants in March 2022 that his career really began to take off.
#SpringTraining preparation plans for Carlos Rodón following a stellar 2022? More of the same 😤
@Yankees | @LaurenShehadi | @Plakata | #MLBTonight https://t.co/tB2vKZKrv8
In the 2021 and 2022 seasons, Rodon posted a cumulative ERA of 2.62, 422 strikeouts and over 300 innings. Rodon was subsequently named an NL All-Star and finished in the top 10 in Cy Young Award voting both years.
In his article, Kuty wrote how Rodon is a reserved person and "a man of very few words," by his own definition. Although he was born in Miami, Carlos Rodon likes to spend his offseason at a remote residence in Indiana, a far cry from the glamor of Yankee Stadium.
Carlos Rodon's experience is nothing extraordinary
The New York Yankees are the most historic and well-known team in baseball, if not the world. Every player who has come to them from a smaller team has a similar reaction. Carlos Rodon will be aiming to prove his worth to his new team on the mound this summer.