Rodón put on IL with 'minor' hamstring strain
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CHICAGO -- Carlos Rodón hoped to avoid the injured list after exiting his start early on Sunday, but the Yankees are taking a more measured approach.
New York placed Rodón on the 15-day IL on Monday with a left hamstring strain. Rodón, who underwent an MRI on Monday, has a “low-grade strain,” according to manager Aaron Boone, who called the strain “minor.”
“He certainly wants to pitch; he did not want to go on the IL,” Boone said. “He feels like he can pitch through this. But we just felt like, if it was going to be six or seven days, with the nature of the injury -- especially as he's been through some things this year trying to get going -- [we] didn't want to put him out there in a compromising situation.”
Rodón exited Sunday’s start against the Astros after 2 2/3 innings. He was seen moving gingerly on the mound after a pitch to Houston’s Chas McCormick, prompting a visit from Boone and the training staff. After some discussion, Rodón left the game.
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Rodón said after Sunday’s game that he felt his hamstring “grab for a second,” and that it felt like a cramp. He was cautiously optimistic about avoiding the IL, but considering it’s his push-off leg, the Yankees are playing it safe. They’re hopeful he’ll be back after the minimum of 15 days, and he’ll continue throwing in the meantime.
“I think it's gonna be right around then,” Boone said. “We'll just see how it lines up with where we can slot him in and just what exactly he's able to do through these 15 days.”
Rodón, who signed a six-year, $162 million deal with the Yankees over the winter, has spent much of the season on the IL. He missed the first three months with a left forearm strain and a lower back issue.
Rodón made his season debut on July 7 against the Cubs, and in six starts, he has posted a 7.33 ERA, striking out 25 batters with 18 walks in 27 innings.
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“The competitor he is, he was adamant and fought going on [the IL],” Boone said. “But we feel like it's the right thing to do. He's frustrated with it, obviously, but there’s still time to have a significant impact this season.”
Boone said the Yankees have not yet decided who will start in Rodón’s place, but he named Randy Vásquez as a potential candidate. The 24-year-old, who’s currently with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, has made three starts in the Majors this season and has a 1.17 ERA in 15 1/3 innings.
Vásquez pitched five scoreless innings in his last big league start on July 5 against the Orioles.