Yankees’ Carlos Rodón Set to Return as Elmer Rodríguez is Optioned to Triple-A

Carlos Rodón is poised to make his return to the mound for the Yankees after a scheduled rehab outing on Tuesday, according to manager Aaron Boone. This comeback will see Rodón take the place of Elmer Rodríguez in the rotation. Rodríguez, the Yankees’ top prospect, had filled in during the interim following Luis Gil’s demotion and Rodón’s stint on the injured list.

Meanwhile, Gerrit Cole also made a rehab start on Tuesday, but Boone noted that Cole is still ‘a little bit of a ways away’ from rejoining the rotation. The Yankees are managing their roster carefully; although Rodón’s return isn’t immediate, they opted to send Rodríguez back to Triple-A after last night’s game. This move allows the Yankees to carry an additional reliever during a stretch without an off-day before Rodón’s anticipated start.

In injury updates, Ben Rice remained out of the lineup again on Tuesday but is hopeful for a quick return. Giancarlo Stanton, on the other hand, has yet to resume running as he continues to recover from a right calf strain that placed him on the injured list.

On another note, Monday night’s victory over the Orioles served as a heartfelt tribute to John Sterling, the Yankees’ beloved broadcaster who has been the radio voice of the team for 36 seasons. Aaron Judge reminisced about Sterling’s iconic call of his record-breaking 62nd home run in 2022, while Suzyn Waldman shared her joy when hearing the crowd’s response after a moment of silence for her long-time colleague. Boone expressed enthusiasm for the ‘JS’ initials stitched into each player’s cap for the game, and he supported the idea of continuing to play Sterling’s famous victory call, ‘Yankees win…Theeeeeeee Yankees win!’ after each win. ‘I’d love it,’ Boone stated. ‘Right on into Frank.’

The Yankees announced that their hats will continue to feature the ‘JS’ initials in honor of Sterling through May 17th, when they face the Mets at Citi Field. Following that, their jerseys will display a custom memorial patch in his memory for the remainder of the season. Aaron Judge echoed Boone’s sentiments, suggesting that playing Sterling’s game-ending celebration after victories would be a fitting tribute to Sterling’s impact on the franchise and its fans.

In a surprising turn, José Caballero has temporarily unseated incumbent shortstop Anthony Volpe. Despite an expected weighted on-base average of just .266—placing him in the seventh percentile—Caballero’s offensive results, combined with his defensive prowess and base-running skills, have earned him a spot in the lineup. ‘I’m trying to win a battle, man,’ Caballero said, emphasizing his determination to contribute. ‘It doesn’t matter how I win it, I want to win the battle. I’m just trying to be on base, make some damage, and help my team.’

When asked about the potential for Caballero to regress, Boone remained noncommittal. ‘Maybe,’ he replied. ‘Look, I think he’s a player. He’s a gamer. You like him up there when the chips are on the table.’

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.