Rodon opened the season on the injured list while recovering from elbow surgery. He had been progressing toward minor-league games, but a hamstring issue set back his timeline, and Boone said the club will closely monitor the hamstring as he works back.
Rodon was expected to be the first returning starter. Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt also opened the year on the injured list after Tommy John surgeries in 2025; Cole had his procedure in March 2025 and is slated for his first rehab start tonight, while Schmidt’s timeline for a 2026 return remains in question.
The veteran left-hander signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees ahead of the 2023 campaign, and is earning $27.8 million in 2026. That payday underscores his place in a high-priced Yankees rotation.
Off the field, the Yankees have struggled recently, dropping eight of 11 to slide out of first place in the AL East. After opening the year 7-1, the team now faces a tense stretch and will look to Rodon’s return as a key turning point in their bid to rebound, starting with this weekend against the Kansas City Royals.
