CHECK OUT THE NEW LOOK & ATTITUDE FROM CARLOS RODON

The 2023 Carlos Rodon was a disappointment but what will we see in 2024? Rodon looks and sounds like a new man. He talking the talk.... but can he walk the walk? 

I'll be honest, I am still not comfortable with the Yankees current strategy of doubling down that Rodon will rebound this season. I think it is a huge risk, but I also love a good comeback story. No Yankee fan wants to see anyone on our team fail so I hope he does exactly what he says he's going to do.

In case you missed it, check out the new Rodon that showed up to Tampa in January HERE. Rodon is leaner, clean shaven and he sounds hungry. I can respect that. I also love baseball players and their superstitions and Rodon has some serious feelings about his old mustache, "I just felt like the mustache had some bad juju in it." It's strange to see a clean-cut Rodon and one that looks leaner.

Rodon wants to forget last season, and he knows he has a lot to prove. He's been in Tampa since the first week in January working out and throwing and I can respect that. I'm glad he has had a productive offseason, and he's put in the work. I hope it translates well onto the field because the Yankees have invested a lot of money in him. He understands that with a big commitment, comes big expectations....and even more so when you wear a Yankees uniform.

He's saying all the right things, I just hope it's not all talk and no action once the season starts. He's got a tough road back. It's bad enough when you play in New York and you don't perform, but then when you rub people the wrong way and it plays out on television the way it did last year, it stands out even more. "The perception on TV didn’t come across great," Rodon said. "Unfortunately, a lot of reality is based off perception. I wouldn’t be here this early if I didn't think (another standout season is in me). "I'm just really committed. After last year, obviously the rough showing … the first year in the Yankees uniform obviously wasn't my best. I'd like to make it up, that's for sure."

It's never easy to change perception, especially when you wear this uniform. His early efforts and quotes at least gives me some hope that his mindset this year is about winning. A lot of things went wrong last season, too many things. 

Baseball is finally back....and hopefully so is the right Rodon.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj