Carlos Rodon took another step toward returning to the Yankees by flashing the best fastball they have seen since signing him six months ago.
The $162 million left-hander threw a second live batting-practice session on Sunday afternoon, and besides drilling Willie Calhoun with a pitch that briefly sent the outfielder to the trainer’s room, it went well as he closes in on a long-awaited rehab assignment.
Rodon, coming back from a forearm muscle strain and back discomfort, threw 29 pitches over two simulated innings and had no issues, with his fastball ranging between 93-96 mph.
“The fastball life was as good as we’ve seen it, so an encouraging step,” said pitching coach Matt Blake, who noted Rodon was sitting 92-93 mph in his first live session on Wednesday.
Rodon is scheduled to face hitters again on Thursday and then could begin a rehab assignment five or six days after that if everything goes well, according to Aaron Boone.
“Stuff-wise, probably as good as I’ve seen him going back to spring,” Boone said. “[The fastball] had that gear to it, without him reaching for it. All in all, another good day.”
Facing Calhoun and Harrison Bader, Rodon said he was working primarily on his fastball and will focus more on his secondary pitches his next time out.
“The velocity was there,” Rodon said. “Felt good. I just feel like I can get more work out of facing an opponent instead of people on my own team.”
Bader went through another pregame workout Sunday after facing Rodon in his live batting practice. Boone was still unsure whether Bader would be able to return from his strained hamstring in time for the Subway Series on Tuesday and Wednesday against the Mets, but didn’t rule it out either.
“I know today looked like it went really well,” Boone said. “I know he’s champing at the bit for that. But I haven’t had that final discussion with him and trainers to see. But it does look like he’s getting really close.”
Bader said on Friday he does not believe he needs a rehab assignment since he only went on the IL on May 30.
Boone still had no clarity on a timetable for Aaron Judge, who missed his seventh straight game Sunday with a sprained big right toe.
Ryan Weber, on the 60-day IL with a forearm strain, will try the rest and rehab route instead of undergoing surgery, according to Boone. Weber is set to receive a PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injection to help his recovery.
Giancarlo Stanton was out of the lineup Sunday as the Yankees continue to build him up cautiously in his return from a strained hamstring.
“Especially with him not really doing any rehab games, this would have been the fourth in a row, just being mindful of that,” Boone said. “Just trying to be smart there.”
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