CARLOS RODON HAS BECOME A TRUE YANKEE LEADER

Carlos Rodón’s Yankee story has been nothing short of a redemption tour. When he first landed in the Bronx, the lefty looked like he couldn’t throw a strike if the strike zone was the size of Yankee Stadium. But fast-forward to now, and he’s turned into exactly what the Yankees paid for: an ace with bite on the mound and leadership in the clubhouse.

That transformation makes it fitting that Rodón is the Yankees’ 2025 nominee for the Roberto Clemente Award, baseball’s annual honor recognizing players who go above and beyond—both on the field and in the community.

Together with his wife, Ashley, Rodón launched the Rodón Foundation, which supports couples navigating pregnancy complications and infertility. One of their biggest initiatives is the “Willow Grant,” named for their daughter, which provides $10,000 to $20,000 annually to 25 couples still fighting for their dream of starting a family after enduring miscarriages or pregnancy loss.

And it’s not just check-writing philanthropy—Rodón also rolls up his sleeves. Back in June, he volunteered at Bottomless Closet in New York City, an organization that helps women in difficult financial situations prepare to enter the workforce.

The Yankees have a strong track record with this award: Aaron Judge brought it home in 2023, Derek Jeter in 2009, while Ron Guidry and Don Baylor earned the honor back in the mid-80s. Rodón now carries that torch, showing he’s not just a comeback story on the mound—he’s the kind of player Clemente himself would have been proud of.

I have always believed that Rodon would be a stud in the Bronx, and I am thrilled to see that he is having such a great personal season but now getting this nod. It's refreshing.