New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon will make three rehab starts in the minor leagues before being activated, starting Tuesday at Double-A Somerset, manager Aaron Boone said Friday.
Rodon signed with the Yankees as a free agent in December — a six-year, $162 million contract — but has yet to make his debut with the club due to a left forearm muscle strain.
While Rodon recovered from that injury, back pain cropped up.
Rodon was coming off a 14-8 campaign with a 2.88 ERA in his one and only season with the San Francisco Giants. He was an All-Star in 2022 for San Francisco and in 2021 for the Chicago White Sox.
In other pitcher news, fellow left-handed starter Nestor Cortes will begin throwing Sunday after being placed on the IL earlier this month with a shoulder strain, Boone told reporters.
But reigning American League MVP Aaron Judge does not have a timetable for a return. Boone said Judge had a second PRP injection in his toe Thursday and a second ligament in the toe was bothering him.
Judge was diagnosed with a bruise and a sprained ligament in his right big toe — but no broken bones — after slamming it against the fence at Dodger Stadium while making a catch in the outfield early this month. He’s on the IL for the second time this season.
Fellow outfielder Harrison Bader (hamstring strain) was not activated off the injured list Friday as originally planned. Bader told the Yankees he did not feel ready to return yet after a rehab start with Double-A Somerset. Bader will make two more minor league starts.
–Field Level Media