BREAKING NEWS: Yankees' Carlos Rodon shoots down concerning....

New York Yankees starting pitcher Carlos Rodon threw 3+ innings, giving up five hits and three earned runs during Wednesday’s Spring Training start against the Tampa Bay Rays, but he is not concerned about the results as he gears up for a crucial 2024 season.

Carlos Rodon called Wednesday’s start “one of those days that you’ve got to be able to pitch without the fastball and kind of use some other things,” according to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com. “That was good to feel that, in a game that no one really gives a [crap] about, because it doesn’t matter. It’s Spring Training.”

Rodon’s fastball was not there on Wednesday against the Rays, usually hitting between 93 and 94 mph on the radar gun. He gave up two home runs in the game.

After signing a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees last offseason, Rodon’s first year in the Bronx did not go to plan. He posted a 6.85 ERA in 14 starts, according to Baseball Reference. There are a number of factors that go into a bounce-back season.

How can Carlos Rodon bounce back in 2024?

The top priority for Rodon is staying healthy. He and the Yankees believe that if he makes 25 or more starts this season, his numbers will be closer to what he posted in 2021 and 2022.