Former NC State All-American Carlos Rodon Picks up the Win in Opening Day Nod

Former NC State All-American Pitcher Carlos Rodon picked up the win in the Yankees’ 4-2 opening day victory over the Brewers yesterday. This was Rodon’s second opening day start, but his first opening day victory.

Back in 2019, Rodon was the opening day starter for the Chicago White Sox against the Royals, picking up a loss after giving up 2 earned runs in 5.1 innings, striking out 6.

Yesterday, Carlos picked up the win this time, striking out 7 batters in 5.1 innings against the Brewers (89 pitches), in a game in which New York defeated Milwaukee 4-2.

Carlos Rodón opens the Yankees 2025 season with a three-pitch strikeout! pic.twitter.com/dmaCrl3WYg

— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 27, 2025

Carlos Rodon used every bit of his arsenal today, in 89 pitches, he threw

28 sliders
23 fastballs
18 changeups
10 sinkers
9 curveballs
1 cutter

THIS is exactly what he needs to do all year, it was beautiful to watch today pic.twitter.com/X77PRDVM4M

— Kin Knows Ball (@_24kin) March 27, 2025

Carlos Rodon was EXCELLENT in his first start of the 2025 season!

5.1 IP // 4 H // 1 ER // 2 BB // 7 SO pic.twitter.com/MtGFTVq8mx

— Fireside Yankees (@FiresideYankees) March 27, 2025

Carlos Rodón’s day is done, and it went about as well as you could hope for if you’re a Yankees fan!

Rodón showed off his new sinker and changeup, and they’re as good as advertised. How he gets both pitches down to nearly 0″ of IVB from that arm angle is beyond my comprehension! pic.twitter.com/7KJWoeGc5a

— Pitch Profiler (@pitchprofiler) March 27, 2025

Carlos Rodón with @M_Marakovits & the media on his Opening Day win & his partner in the battery, Austin Wells. #YANKSonYES pic.twitter.com/GJGu5uR3AZ

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) March 27, 2025

Rodon is entering his third year in New York after signing a six-year contract worth $162 million in 2023. Despite a challenging start in 2023 with a record of 3-8 and a 6.85 ERA, Rodón settled in last season, finishing with a 16-9 record and a 3.96 ERA, striking out 195 batters in 175 innings. He was tied for the second-most wins in all of Major League Baseball last season and ranked 10th in strikeouts per nine innings.

The former NC State All-American is entering his 11th season in the MLB with a career record of 75-63, a 3.85 ERA, and 1,206 strikeouts in 1,086.2 innings.

The two-time All-Star ranks second in NC State history in career MLB wins, fourth in ERA among starting pitchers, and first in strikeouts.