Carlos Rodón Bio
Carlos Antonio Rodón is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). A three-time MLB All-Star, Rodón first gained national attention as a left-handed ace at North Carolina State before being selected third overall by the Chicago White Sox in the 2014 MLB Draft. He made his major league debut in 2015 and has since pitched for the White Sox, the San Francisco Giants, and the Yankees. Rodón is widely recognized for throwing a no-hitter in 2021 while with the White Sox and for striking out batters at one of the highest rates in the league throughout his career.
Early Life and Background
Carlos Antonio Rodón was born on December 10, 1992, in Miami, Florida. His father immigrated from Cuba in 1967 at the age of five, and his mother is Cuban-American. The family later moved to Holly Springs, North Carolina, where Rodón grew up and developed his love for baseball.
Rodón attended Holly Springs High School and quickly emerged as one of the top high school pitchers in the country. During his junior year in 2010, he threw a no-hitter, two one-hitters, and four shutouts, finishing 10–1 with a 0.80 earned run average and 115 strikeouts. He was named all-state by the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association. In 2011, he went 11–0 with a 1.40 ERA and 135 strikeouts, leading Holly Springs to the North Carolina 4A state championship over T. C. Roberson High School.
Although the Milwaukee Brewers selected him in the 16th round of the 2011 MLB Draft, Rodón declined to sign so he could attend North Carolina State University.
Path to Major League Baseball
As a freshman at NC State in 2012, Rodón went 9–0 with a 1.57 ERA and set the Wolfpack freshman record with 135 strikeouts. He became the first freshman ever named the Atlantic Coast Conference Pitcher of the Year and was recognized as the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Freshman Pitcher of the Year and an All-American. He was also a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award.
In his sophomore season in 2013, Rodón went 10–3 with a 2.99 ERA and led NCAA Division I with 184 strikeouts, an NC State single-season record. He led the Wolfpack to their first College World Series appearance since 1968 and won the USA Baseball Richard W. “Dick” Case Player of the Year Award. As a junior in 2014, Rodón posted a 6–7 record with a 2.01 ERA and set the NC State career strikeouts record with 436.
After his freshman year, Rodón earned a spot on USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, joining partly because of the chance to play in Cuba, where his family is from. Across two summers with Team USA, he went 5–0 with a 0.75 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 36 innings. The Chicago White Sox selected him with the third overall pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, and he signed for a $6.582 million bonus.
Carlos Rodón Career
Early Career (2015–2018)
Rodón was called up to the White Sox major league roster on April 20, 2015, and made his MLB debut one day later. He recorded his first win on May 9 against the Cincinnati Reds, pitching six innings with eight strikeouts. As a rookie, he went 9–6 with a 3.75 ERA across 26 games and 23 starts, establishing himself as a reliable young starter.
Injuries interrupted his progress in 2016, 2017, and 2018. He posted a 9–10 record with a 4.04 ERA in 2016 before landing on the disabled list with a left wrist sprain. Limited to 12 starts in 2017 and 20 starts in 2018 due to shoulder issues, Rodón continued to refine his craft while battling through setbacks.
Chicago White Sox Breakthrough (2019–2021)
On March 18, 2019, the White Sox named Rodón their Opening Day starter. His season was cut short in May when he underwent Tommy John surgery, limiting him to seven starts. After a difficult 2020 campaign shortened by injury and inefficiency, Rodón re-signed with the White Sox on a one-year, $3 million contract in January 2021.
On April 14, 2021, Rodón delivered the signature moment of his White Sox tenure, pitching a no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians in an 8–0 win at Guaranteed Rate Field. He retired the first 25 batters before losing his perfect game bid on a hit by pitch and finished with seven strikeouts. The performance was part of a resurgent season in which he earned his first All-Star nod, went 13–5 with a 2.37 ERA, and struck out 185 batters in 132⅔ innings. He finished fifth in AL Cy Young Award voting.
San Francisco Giants (2022)
On March 14, 2022, Rodón signed a two-year, $44 million contract with the San Francisco Giants. He opened his Giants career by tying Juan Marichal’s franchise record with 12 strikeouts in his debut against the Miami Marlins on April 9 at Oracle Park. Two starts later, he broke Marichal’s record for most strikeouts in a pitcher’s first two appearances of a season and later set a new Giants record for most strikeouts in the first four appearances of a season since 1900.
On July 12, 2022, Rodón was named to the MLB All-Star Game as a replacement for Josh Hader. On September 9, he set a new Giants single-season strikeout record with his 10th double-digit strikeout game of the year, surpassing marks held by Tim Lincecum and Jason Schmidt. He finished sixth in NL Cy Young Award voting before opting out of his contract on November 6, 2022.
New York Yankees Era (2023–Present)
On December 21, 2022, Rodón signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the New York Yankees. His Yankees debut was delayed by a left forearm strain and a back injury, and he did not pitch in the majors until July 7, 2023. He finished 3–8 with a 6.85 ERA in 14 starts. In 2024, he rebounded sharply, going 16–9 with a 3.96 ERA and 195 strikeouts in 175 innings across 32 starts.
On March 27, 2025, Rodón was named the Yankees’ Opening Day starting pitcher and earned a win against the Milwaukee Brewers. On July 11, 2025, he was selected to the All-Star Game as a replacement for Max Fried. He finished 2025 with an 18–9 record, a 3.09 ERA, and 203 strikeouts in 195⅓ innings. Following the Yankees’ postseason elimination on October 16, Rodón underwent surgery to remove a bone spur in his left elbow and is expected to return to the Yankees rotation in April or early May 2026.
Notable Events and Milestones
Rodón’s career-defining moment came on April 14, 2021, when he no-hit the Cleveland Indians. He has reached double-digit strikeouts in 10 or more games in three different seasons, set the Giants single-season strikeout record in 2022, and has been selected to three MLB All-Star Games.
Carlos Rodón Career Wins
Across his MLB career with the Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, and New York Yankees, Carlos Antonio Rodón has recorded numerous victories highlighted by dominant strikeout performances and consistent run prevention.
MLB Highlights
Rodón earned his first major league win on May 9, 2015, against the Cincinnati Reds. He enjoyed his most prolific winning season in 2021, when he went 13–5 with the White Sox. He followed that with a strong 2024 campaign (16–9) and a career-best 18-win season in 2025, both with the Yankees.
Carlos Rodón Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Carlos Antonio Rodón was born into a Cuban-American family in Miami, Florida. His father emigrated from Cuba in 1967, and his mother is also Cuban-American. The family later settled in Holly Springs, North Carolina, where Rodón developed into a top pitching prospect.
Personal Life
Rodón married his wife, Ashley, in January 2018 in Costa Rica. The couple has a daughter and two sons.
2025 Season Performance
Carlos Antonio Rodón opened the 2025 season as the Yankees’ Opening Day starter on March 27 and earned the win against the Milwaukee Brewers. He built on his strong 2024 rebound to deliver one of the best seasons of his career, posting an 18–9 record with a 3.09 ERA and 203 strikeouts in 195⅓ innings across 33 starts.
His mid-season form earned him a selection to the 2025 MLB All-Star Game as a replacement for Max Fried. The Yankees advanced to the postseason, but were eliminated in October. Following the season, Rodón underwent surgery on October 16 to remove a bone spur in his left elbow.
Rodón is expected to rejoin the Yankees rotation in April or early May 2026, providing the Yankees with a top-tier left-handed starter as he continues his six-year contract.