Yankees' Carlos Rodon Admits Elbow Issue Hampered Him at End of 2025 Season

Rodon underwent surgery in October to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his left elbow.

Published on Feb. 15, 2026

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New York Yankees pitcher Carlos Rodon made 33 starts last season, tied for the most in the majors, and enjoyed his best year in pinstripes. However, by the end of the season, Rodon's range of motion was greatly limited due to loose bodies in his left elbow, which he eventually had removed via surgery in October. Rodon acknowledged that he was managing the elbow issue 'probably every start,' but he adapted and continued to compete, pitching to a 3.09 ERA while striking out 203 batters across a career-high 195 1/3 innings.

Why it matters

Rodon's elbow issues highlight the challenges pitchers face in trying to perform at a high level while dealing with nagging injuries. Despite the physical limitations, Rodon was still able to have a strong season for the Yankees, but the team is hoping the surgery will help restore his velocity and command as he looks to return to full strength in 2026.

The details

Rodon said the elbow issues were a slow progression over three to four years, and the procedure was a long time coming. He noted that 'normal things were interesting' due to his compromised state, but he continued to pitch because he was 'winning games' and helping the team. Rodon's four-seam fastball averaged 94.1 mph in 2025, down from 95.4 mph in 2024, and he is still working on dialing in his command with the extra range of motion he has regained from the surgery.

  • Rodon underwent surgery in October 2025 to remove loose bodies and shave down a bone spur in his left elbow.
  • Rodon has received two PRP injections as part of the rehab process, with the first coming after he felt like his arm 'got ran over by a bus' and the second about 10 days ago.
  • Rodon threw his fifth bullpen session on Saturday, February 14, 2026.

The players

Carlos Rodon

A left-handed pitcher for the New York Yankees who made 33 starts in 2025, tied for the most in the majors, and enjoyed his best year in pinstripes despite dealing with an elbow issue that eventually required surgery.

Aaron Boone

The manager of the New York Yankees, who is hoping that Rodon's velocity and command will improve now that he has regained range of motion in his arm following the surgery.

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What they’re saying

“Just [doing] normal things were interesting. Now did it hurt? Sometimes, sure, pitching. But I'd rather go out there and compete. And I was throwing well, so I couldn't just say, 'Oh, I can't pitch.' It was manageable.”

— Carlos Rodon, New York Yankees Pitcher (New York Post)

“Hopefully this is something that as he continues to build, it just frees him up a little bit more. It can add to his stuff, having that next level of range of motion.”

— Aaron Boone, New York Yankees Manager (New York Post)

What’s next

Rodon is expected to return to the Yankees' rotation by May at the latest, as he continues to work his way back from the elbow surgery.

The takeaway

Rodon's ability to pitch through the elbow issue and still have a strong 2025 season speaks to his toughness and competitiveness, but the Yankees are hopeful that the surgery will help him regain his top form and velocity as he looks to build on his success in 2026.