In some respects, Carlos Rodon started his first day. It was similar to the worst case scenario.
The Yankees ace spends the year. This is the reality that Gerrit Cole was introduced before the game and could have completely sunk into the fans as he walked onto the field with his arm in a brace.
Lewis Gill was on the sidelines for months, and the Yankees didn't want to significantly change the schedule that Max Freed pitched.
So the choice was Rodon, and its performance was almost the best scenario.
The left-handed began his third year, and the Yankees looked a little different and strong as they were in their tenure, earning six innings in a 4-2 Game 1 victory over the Bronx's Brewers.
Rodon allowed one run (in his third Vinny Capra Home Run) with seven hits and two walks. In his best years, he only threw fastballs and sliders.
His worst year – in 2023, full of injuries in his debut season with Pinstripes – he used the same Arsenal.
Instead of 2024 when he excelled in his bounceback, he expanded his repertoire to become a more complete pitcher.
On Thursday he used six different types of pitches – a new sinker, an improved changeup on curveballs, a single cutter mixing – showing that the 11-year-old pitcher, 32, is about to evolve according to his age.
“In the last few years, the scouting report on me has been four seams in the zone, the slider below,” Rodon said after his first step on 89 pitch. “And I am sure my plan as a batter was to cover my fastball, push me down in the zone, cover my fastball, and respond to the sliders.
“So I think it's definitely predictable by expanding the repertoire and adding a few other pitches that repeat slightly different movements and speed changes.”
He was more unpredictable and less dominant than last season. This is because the deep pitch mix helped set up what was his best pitch. A biting slider that Milwaukee couldn't understand.
The brewer batsman shook 15 times in the offering and missed the nineth inning.
“I thought his slider was really good today… and it's still going to be his calling card,” manager Aaron Boone said. “But I think his changeup will be really good.”
Rodon had done all his work in his debut, except for his footwork.
For a Yankee team, already too shallow in pitching depth, the most frightening moment of the game arrived when the speedy Salfrelic hit the sharp grounder first.
Paul Goldschmidt flipped over by getting the field to Rodón, who ran to base.
The trainer checked him, but Rodon said he was more angry with himself than he was hurt.
“I lost my footing and looked really athletic there,” Rodon said laughing in the afternoon.
