BRONX, NY — Elmer Rodríguez, the third-ranked prospect in the Yankees farm system and 70th overall in all of Major League Baseball, made his MLB debut against the Rangers in Arlington, Texas last week and recorded a loss after allowing two runs in four innings.
Tuesday night in the Bronx, the rookie right-hander from Puerto Rico returned to the mound.
This start though was different because it was at Yankee Stadium. Perhaps some pensive movements with his pitches, after all this was at the stadium with a home crowd of 38,360 watching their team continue their surge. A 25-11 record to begin the year, which is the top record in the American League and only behind the Braves for the best in the Majors.
The Yankees are rocking and rolling on all phases across their first 36 games of 2026 with a record of 25-11, the best in the American League – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
Three first inning runs, two walks, a hit batter, and a run scoring wild pitch was indeed a shaky first inning. But the 23-year-old out of Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico has resiliency and settled down, pitching 4-⅔ innings on 94 pitches, 55 coming for strikes. The Yankees offense continued to surge and the bullpen limited minimal damage.
A 7-4 win, the Yankees’ 15th in their last 17, and fifth consecutive victory in the opening game of a three-game series.
To help continue the Bronx Bombers’ MLB lead with the long ball, Ryan McMahon, Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Paul Goldschmidt each hit home runs.
Indeed a resilient bunch of Yankees, down 3-0 and then continuing to play good baseball. Rodriguez was informed later in the night that he would be optioned back to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes/Barre and in all probability return to the Bronx down the line after his brief taste of the big leagues. Carlos Rodón is expected to be back in the rotation and will start on the upcoming road trip to Milwaukee against the Brewers.
Regardless, Rodríguez with a good fastball and slider that locates, is not going to be away from the Bronx on a long term basis. The potential is evident as is his resiliency. He returned to the mound and threw a solid eight pitches for outs in the second.
“We’re short in the pen thinking hopefully he can finish the game, credit to Elmer for picking himself up after a rough start there,” said manager Aaron Boone. “So many good at bats to pull us back and take the lead.”
Boone alluded to Rodríguez having a hard time getting settled, stating, “Credit to him it really could have gotten away there. To limit the damage and grind his way through it. Proud of the effort and great learning experience there. Certainly wasn’t perfect but he battled his butt off.”
And battling with that desire to overcome some difficulty is something that will see Rodríguez return to the Bronx. The Yankees’ 2025 Minor League Player of the Year had 26 starts with High-A Hudson Valley, Double-A Somerset and at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, compiling a 2.58 ERA with 176 strikeouts last season.
It’s that learning experience for Rodriguez, though important also to provide a quality start, as his counterpart on the mound for Texas was Jacob deGrom, a two-time NL Cy Young Award winner with the Mets who knows something about a rookie beginning his career in New York.
The former Met is now two games shy from a 100-win career mark, allowing a season high six runs Tuesday night. On the other hand, Rodríguez, surrendering the three first-inning runs, recorded two strikeouts, and allowed six hits with four walks.
“(In the) first inning to go for two walks starting the game, I can’t be doing that,” said Rodríguez, “Obviously gets me in trouble, struggled a little bit after that, tried to be simple and attack and not do too much and try and work better.”
He added about that first inning, “I wanted to be too perfect, do too much. After that, go one pitch at a time. Executing pitches one pitch at a time, trusting myself and got the results.
As the 23-year-old Puerto Rican’s Yankee Stadium debut took place Tuesday night, Elmer Rodríguez made his MLB debut last week in Arlington against the Rangers – Image Credit: MLB
And on his Yankee Stadium debut? “It was awesome, better than expected.”
“(It has) always been a dream of mine pitching here. Ever since I was a little kid I was dreaming of pitching here, getting in the bigs and hopefully playing for the Yankees and wearing pinstripes.”
At this rate, the Yankees are a team that could win 95 games, possibly more, of course memories of a June swoon of last season can’t be bypassed, but this is a different team that wins in many ways. Their hitters make contact, hit the ball to all fields, use the home run ball, and display speed on the bases. Winning their last eight at home, starters have a MLB best 2.77 ERA.
“We been able to do it a number of different ways,” said Goldschmidt who mentioned the small ball and comeback ability. “There’s going to be ups and downs, just try to continue to put the work in. We have a lot of confidence in ourselves. “
Surely the confidence was there. The home runs from Chisholm, Goldschmidt and McMahon, a game-tying two-run blast in the second inning, added to their confidence. Seven straight runs and another winning streak, so there is no swoon at the beginning of May.
And with Rodón and Gerrit Cole expected back soon after Tommy John surgery, the rotation gets stronger.
And waiting in the wings again will be a rookie Elmer Rodríguez.
Rich Mancuso is a senior writer and columnist at LatinoSports.com with coverage of MLB, boxing, and MLS – X: @Ring786, Facebook.com/Rich Mancuso
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