Yankees Pitcher Carlos Rodon Refused To Leave Game

06/28/2024 10:38 AM

New York Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodon had a brutal showing on Thursday night against the Toronto Blue Jays, and yet, he legitimately refused to leave the mound in the bottom of the fifth inning. 

Yankees manager Aaron Boone wanted to take Rodon out when the Blue Jays were up 8-2 with runners on first and second. The former All-Star, however, wanted to get through five innings. 

As Boone was walking to the mound, you can clearly see Rodon saying, "I want it." 

After a brief meeting, Boone walked off the mound and allowed Rodon to stay in the game despite the fact that he looked abysmal out there.

What made this situation so awkward was that reliever Phil Bickford was running onto the field to relieve Rodon. Of course, he ran back to the bullpen after realizing that Rodon was staying in the game.

As you'd expect, the media asked Rodon about this exchange during his postgame press conference. 

"I just wanted to get through five for the bullpen, and just prove something to myself," Rodon said. "That even though I get knocked down, I can get back up and just keep going."

Yankees reliever Phil Bickford was half way to the mound before Carlos Rodón convinced Aaron Boone to let him keep pitching pic.twitter.com/ZssfhMUOhv

— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) June 28, 2024

As he always does, Boone stood up for his players during his media availability. 

"Clearly, some teams game-planning are doing a good job against him," Boone said. "While he's wearing it right now and going through it, it's also kind of a gutsy effort to not want out, to want to finish through five, especially with what we're going through as a team right now."

Rodon has surrendered 21 runs in the past 13 2/3 innings of work. His ERA has now ballooned to 4.42 this season. 

If Rodon can't redeem himself soon enough, the Yankees may have to consider replacing him in the rotation. 

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