In a sea of expectations, even trained professionals struggle to swim. Carlos Rodon, who joined the New York Yankees on a six-year $162 million contract, experienced this too. A wave of injuries struck him hard, thwarting his attempt to reclaim the lost position as 2023 went from bad to worse for him. However, this year, things have changed for the ace. The confidence Rodon and his team had in himself finally paid dividends.

It was a long thought for the Pinstripes before they finalized Rodon’s name for the starting position for ALCS game 1, but the choice looks correct. The 31-year-old delivered brilliantly and helped the team win 5-2. Many factors played their part in this, including the experience. However, the most crucial is the lesson learned from the 2023 Cy Youg Award winner Gerrit Cole, true to the quote “Learn from the best to be the best.”

Gerrit Cole’s robotic arm helped father Carlos Rodon get calm ahead of ALCS game 1

‘When you return to the postseason after a two-year break, you better be pitching well, otherwise it’s a big miss’ – former Chicago White Sox pitcher Carlos Rodon knew this and thus, ensured to better his record with the Yankees. He started against the Cleveland Guardians and claimed five strikeouts against two runs. Although the LHP would have liked to have more from the game given the past, it was something to be proud of.

Rodon understands this. According to MLB.com, he shared, “The goal was to just stay in control of what I can do, physically and emotionally. I thought I executed that well tonight.”  While accepting the role of calmness, he claimed, “I’m a dad first. That helped: as a certain songstress might have advised, he needed to calm down.” But this was not all, the actual difference came from mirroring Gerrit Cole.

A trusted asset, Cole pitched in the ALDS Gameat on the road. He threw ‘like a robot’ until the final. Rodon took a clue from there and shared, “Mentally, I was taking notes on how he was going out there and going about it.” But the job is not done yet, Carlos Rodon has to keep going, being part of the Yankees rotation. But can he do it for the ultimate crown?

Star of the ALCS game 1, can Rodon repeat the same performance?

Continuity is the master key to success; Rodon, who wants to be successful, has to do the same. But the stats show, it is missing at the moment – the Yankees’ pitcher has done well this season but could not contain the opponents. His ERA of 3.96 describes it, so the win-loss record of 16-9. But as things stand for him with a 1-1 record this season, Rodon can add more to it.

If skipper Aaron Boone is to be believed, it was a dominating performance. He said, “He is intense; he is emotional at times. I thought he commanded all that so well. That’s what he’s capable of when he’s dialed in like that.” However, the Yankees skipper would look to see a similar performance in times to come. Can Carlos Rodon do it? Share your thoughts on this in the comments below.