On March 15, New York Yankees head coach Aaron Boone announced that Carlos Rodón would be the starting starter for the season opener against the Brewers at home on March 27. The 32-year-old left-handed shooter replaces Gerrit Cole, who underwent surgery with Tommy John, who will miss the entire 2025 season after surgery in Los Angeles this week.

Honor and responsibility
"I'm relieved to give him the ball," said Boone in George W. Bush. M. Stanbrenner said before the game against the Phillies that "he had the right mentality and was in good shape. I'm excited to make this decision because it's only the first game after all. This is the second time in his career that Roden has started in the opening game, having started for the White Sox in a 5-3 loss in Kansas City in 2019.

"It's an honour and I'm excited," Roden said, "I just want to go out there and win." To be honest, it was just the first game of the season, a normal game. Roden, who signed a six-year, $162 million contract in 2022, set a career-high 16 wins and 32 starts last season, amassed 195 strikeouts from 175 innings, and had a 3.96 ERA percentage.

Spring Training Adjustment and Evolution
This spring, Roden conceded six points in a 5.1-game warm-up game, with a 10.13 ERA and five strikeouts and three escorts. He will make the final adjustments against the Rays on March 16. "He's still the same game," Boone commented, "and he's had another good winter after last offseason." I feel like his arsenal continues to evolve, the change balls are getting stronger, the speed balls have become an important weapon, and the two breaking balls are also good shots. The ball quality and trajectory of the four-stitch speedball are on the line, and the condition is good. "

Rotation layout with regrets
Boone revealed that Max Fried will start the second game on March 29. The left-hand shooter, who signed an eight-year, $218 million contract in December, missed the opening game due to Kerr's injury. "If you want him to pitch in the opening game, you have to cancel a spring training start, which is obviously not advisable," Boone explained, "and Roden is ready and I'm happy to give him the ball." "

Kerr was the Yankees opener for four years in a row (2020-2023) and was the opener in Houston last year with a right elbow injury by Nestor Cortes. Roden is looking forward to returning to the atmosphere at Yankee Stadium: "Listen, this is the Bronx Zoo, I love Yankee Stadium. Unfortunately, the last time we were here was in the fifth World Series and the atmosphere was just as exciting, but the result was not as good as it could have been. "

As the opening game approaches, Roden will step onto the pitcher's mound with a new look and shoulder the responsibility of leading the Yankees to the championship.