Rodon gives up 2 more HRs, lacks zip on fastball

TAMPA, Fla. —

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Rodon, 31, is looking to rebound from a nightmare first season in New York after signing a six-year, $162 million contract in December 2022. The left-hander, who didn’t make his Yankees debut until July because of a forearm strain, recorded a 6.85 ERA in 14 starts as the team failed to reach the postseason.

This year, he reported to spring training slimmer and without the mustache he sported last season. His pitch arsenal also has looked different.

Rodon has almost exclusively relied on his fastball-slider combination in his career — he threw one of those two pitches 92% of the time in 2022, his best season as a major leaguer — and he doesn’t plan to dramatically alter his usage. But he has been focused on working on his curveball, changeup and a new cutter this spring to have at his disposal when needed.

“On a day like today, where the fastball wasn’t exactly where I wanted it to be, that cutter could come in really handy for early outs,” Rodon said.

Manager Aaron Boone attributed Rodon’s decreased fastball velocity — it averaged 93.2 mph on Wednesday as compared to 95.3 mph last season — to fatigue expected at this point on the calendar.

“He didn’t have great life on his fastball today,” Boone said. “But I felt, really, in between the first and last pitch, I thought he pitched really well. I thought he pitched, which was good to see.”

Rodon acknowledged this spring is also about building up his confidence. Swagger, he said, is a trait he carries on the mound. Last season dented it. Good health, he said, is all it should take to bounce back to become the pitcher the Yankees envisioned when they signed him.

“I just need to stay on the mound,” Rodon said. “That’s it. I’m pretty good at this game.”