“It’s supposed to be hard. If it weren’t hard, everyone would do it. The hard… is what makes it great.” That line is famous for a reason — it perfectly captures the reality of enduring a long career in the major leagues. It’s one thing to be talented and it’s another to get through the grind, get through the failures, and be great in the hard times. For New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodón, hitting that decade mark has been a journey. And celebrating alongside him, his wife, Ashley Paddock, provided a wonderful image of the commitment behind the pinstripes.

Rodón entered the 2025 season carrying significant responsibility for the Bronx Bombers. The injury to ace Gerrit Cole forced the Yankees to make Rodón their Opening Day starter, in the third year of his six-year, $162 million contract. “I feel really good about giving him the ball. He’s in the right frame of mind,” manager Aaron Boone said about this decision. Rodón accepted, terming it an “honor,” but he kept his eye on the long season ahead, as the leader of the rotation.

When Carlos reached his official 10-year MLB service anniversary on April 9, 2025, his wife Ashley posted a touching tribute on Instagram. She posted a video, putting the achievement in perspective by highlighting the incredible odds. She posted a video, putting the achievement in perspective by showing just how rare it is: a high school baseball player has only a 0.0277% chance of making it to MLB, and even a college player’s odds are just 0.37%. “Here we are, officially hit your 10 year,” Ashley wrote directly to Rodón. “I am so proud of you. This game is not for the weak.”

Ashley’s note reflected the perfect mix of professional dedication and personal commitment. “You have shown time and time again how you will never give up,” she continued in the caption. She praised his “fight to evolve and remain fully committed,” while crucially adding that he achieved this “while never neglecting to make home a priority is unmatched.” Ashley emphasized his impact as a father, stating, “Our kids are so blessed to have you to model their life after,” expressing gratitude before concluding with cheers for his milestone and future.

A career marked by challenges: Carlos Rodón’s journey

Carlos Rodón’s journey has been nothing short of a rollercoaster, filled with highs and lows to reach this point. The Chicago White Sox picked him third overall in 2014, and he made it to the majors the next April. Chicago had glimpses of brilliance followed by frustrating inconsistency. But 2021 was his real breakout, and he made the All-Star team, pitched a memorable no-hitter against Cleveland on April 14, and gave a glimpse of how dominant he could be when he’s healthy.

After that outstanding season, Rodón had signed with the San Francisco Giants for 2022, and he had pitched perhaps his best season yet. He was 14-8 with a dazzling 2.88 ERA and 237 strikeouts, earning another All-Star nod. It helped earn him the huge Yankee free-agent contract. After an injury-filled and ineffective 2023 season with the pinstripes, he reestablished himself in 2024. And he won a career-high 16 games while pitching important innings late in games.

It took a lot of fortitude for Rodón to endure those ten years on the diamond. He battled frequent injuries and consistently showed great determination to return. He had surgery on one shoulder in 2017. Finally, in May 2019, he had Tommy John surgery, which required a long recovery and caused him to miss that season. Even during his first season with the Yankees, he was sidelined by forearm and back problems. Overcoming these physical setbacks and reaching ten years of MLB service makes his journey an even more impressive feat.

Now in the early weeks of the 2025 season, Rodón is in his tenth year. Through his first three games he’s off to a mixed start, going 1–2 with a 5.19 ERA. But he is clearly the ace of the Yankees’ rotation, especially with Cole out for the year. His journey—filled with strikeouts, setbacks, a no-hitter, and comebacks—continues. As Ashley’s poignant post shares, this incredible milestone isn’t just about numbers; it’s about determination. What will the next chapter hold for this indomitable Yankee star?