Yankees' lefty Carlos Rodon driven to improve in 2024

TAMPA, Fla. — Carlos Rodon turned on the ignition and turned off the 2023 season.

“Just got in my car and drove away,’’ Rodon said of how long it took to move on from a frustrating year. “I left it there at Kauffman Stadium.’’

Evidence of tire marks would have provided an appropriate exit.

In his final start of 2023, Rodon gave up eight runs and didn’t record an out at Kansas City, where the fourth-place Yankees’ season mercifully ended.

That short appearance included another regrettable moment for Rodon, who turned his back on pitching coach Matt Blake during a mound visit — one last bad snapshot from a forgettable first season in pinstripes.

“There’s definitely motivation from that game,’’ said Rodon. “That was a pretty crappy way to end a season.’’

A new start in 2024

Four months since that Royal mess, a slimmer Rodon — minus his signature mustache — is already reaching 97 mph with his fastball and feeling better mechanically.

“He looks really good. Really pleased with the position he’s put himself in,’’ said general manager Brian Cashman. “He’s coming after it hard and wants it bad and wants to pitch at a high level for our fan base.’’

Rodon’s early-January arrival was “probably the earliest I’ve ever started,’’ and he has already thrown to live batters on the minor league side.

“I just think he’s in a much better place physically and mechanically getting ready for the season,’’ said Blake, who also sees Rodon adding to his primary fastball-slider arsenal.

“It’s one of those things we talked about last year,’’ Blake said of incorporating more change-ups, curveballs or even cutters to Rodon’s pitch mix. “Just a matter of finding the right fit without giving up the strengths of the fastball-slider.

“That’s still going to be the backbone of who he is.’’

Rodon: 'I wasn't very good' in 2023

Injuries were the root cause of Rodon’s problems in 2023, shortly after he signed a six-year, $162 million free agent contract to be the Yankees’ left-handed rotation complement to ace Gerrit Cole.

“I wasn’t very good,’’ said Rodon, who opened last season on the injured list due to a forearm strain.

Rodon’s IL stay was extended by a back issue, limiting him to 14 starts with a 6.85 ERA after two All-Star seasons with the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants.

“There’s a lot of things that I could be better at. Obviously, staying on the field being one,’’ said Rodon, who also reacted to negative fan reaction by blowing a kiss in Anaheim.

“I think I could have been better in my mind, not so reactive,’’ Rodon said. “But I’ve told people that’s a double-edged sword. That’s part of my game. I’m an emotional pitcher.

“It can take me to the highest highs and the lowest lows, and I’ve been to both sides,’’ he said. “I don’t like the lowest lows.

“Now, it’s just harnessing that emotion and putting it toward being great and winning ballgames.’’

Slimmed down Rodon gears up for 2024

Blake said there wasn’t a mandate for Rodon to slim down.

The plan was for him to get stronger and improve his range of motion, allowing him “to access the delivery in a little different way and get the power back,’’ and better manage the long season.

Rodon’s January included a lot of video work, trying to refine his mechanics.

The next step is altering his Bronx identity from an injury-prone starter to a reliable rotation fixture.

“He’s pretty good when he’s on the mound, but how often is he on the mound? Yeah, I’d like to change that rep,’’ said Rodon. “But it’s just baby steps. It’s one step at a time.’’

Last week, Cole mentioned that the Yankees, as a group, are too often injured.

“Gerrit’s not wrong. We do have a problem staying on the field,’’ said Rodon. “How many guys were on the IL last year, me being one of them?’’

The 2023 Yankees lost the third-most games to the IL among MLB clubs.

“You could chalk it up to bad luck. There’s so many excuses for that, the list is endless,’’ said Rodon. “I guess it’s not black and white, but I’ll put it that way; you’re either on the field or you’re not.’’

If the Yankees receive bounce-back years from Rodon and Nestor Cortes, a solid season from Marcus Stroman and continued growth by Clarke Schmidt, “there’s a high ceiling, that’s for sure,’’ Rodon said of that rotation.

“As we all know, we need to stay on the field. I know Gerrit is going to be our anchor, and it’s our job to step up behind him and take some innings.’’

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Yankees' Carlos Rodon looks for bounce-back season in 2024