CARLOS RODON REVEALS SHOCKING VELOCITY SPIKE DURING INTENSE YANKEES REHAB PROGRESS
Carlos Rodon reveals he is throwing harder with less effort during Yankees rehab following surgery to remove an elbow bone chip.
The New York Yankees already have Max Fried and Cam Schlittler locked in, along with a rotation that’s clearly built to compete. What’s still uncertain is exactly which Carlos Rodon we’ll see once he’s back, and the same goes for Gerrit Cole. But early signs from Rodon’s rehab suggest the outcome could be better than most anticipated.
Rodon had surgery at the end of the 2025 season to remove a bone chip from his throwing elbow. At his worst this offseason, he struggled with basic tasks like buttoning his shirt, let alone firing the mid-90s fastball that’s defined his career over the last five years.
That image is striking when you consider this is a 33-year-old lefty who logged a career-high 195.1 innings last year. He pushed through elbow pain late in the season just to stay in the rotation. That kind of grit builds trust. Now, that perseverance might pay off in the form of a Rodon with more life in his arm than we’ve seen for some time.
What Rodon’s Rehab Is Revealing
Here’s the part Yankees fans should find genuinely encouraging. Rodon’s been gradually ramping up his velocity, but with an unexpected twist: he’s throwing harder when he actually eases off on his effort. It’s counterintuitive, but it signals that his mechanics are settling back into place.
“I backed off and threw harder,” Rodon told the New York Post. “I was like, ‘OK, that makes no sense.’ But it made it easier to command. It’s just the little ins and outs of pitching, trying to find the stroke again, knowing how much effort in this pitch and the line of this pitch. It takes a little time.”
That statement says a lot. He’s not just telling reporters he feels good; he’s genuinely navigating the complexities of his delivery and discovering something authentic. When a pitcher backs off but gains velocity, it often means the tension is gone; the arm flows more naturally. The bone chip is out, range of motion is returning, and the arm is functioning as it should.
The overall strategy is just as promising. Rodon isn’t rushing from rehab velocity to game speed in one jump. He’s progressing deliberately. “I’m just trying to tick up a little before I get there so I can close the gap of a big discrepancy in velocity,” he explained. “So just slowly building to get the velocity up so when I get in a game, it’s a lot more natural than just going from 90 mph to 98 mph. We’ll see what it does.”
This approach reflects the experience of a veteran who understands that pushing too hard, too fast, often ends with a trip back to surgery.
The Implications for the Yankees
Looking at Rodon’s 2025 stats on Fangraphs tells a story worth noting. He posted a solid 3.09 ERA over 195.1 innings, his career high. His average fastball velocity dropped by 1.3 mph from 2024 to 94.1 mph, yet he put up some of the best results of his career. He clearly pitched through discomfort and still performed at a high level. When fully healthy during the midseason stretch, Rodon was among the elite pitchers in the American League. His strikeout rate dipped slightly, and he faded at the end, but those were signs of managing pain rather than decline.
Now imagine that pain gone, and the lost range of motion restored.
You’re likely looking at a Rodon pitching closer to 95 or 96 mph, with the refined command he’s been honing in rehab, and a realistic return to the rotation around May or June. The Yankees anticipated this scenario. They constructed a starting five designed to handle the innings until Rodon and Cole are ready to take the mound. But if Rodon returns with a freer, harder arm than he has in years, this rotation stops being just good; it becomes a serious challenge for the rest of the league.
The bone chip is out. The arm is loosening up. The Yankees’ best version of Carlos Rodon could very well be yet to come.
LAKERS ON THE BRINK: LEBRON JAMES ADMITS DISAPPOINTMENT AFTER 3-0 SERIES DEFICIT
"We still have life." LeBron James remains defiant despite a brutal 131-108 loss to OKC at the Crypto.com Arena on Saturday.
The Los Angeles Lakers find themselves just one loss away from elimination after a tough 131-108 defeat to the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals at Crypto.com Arena on Saturday night. Although the Lakers held a halftime lead for the second consecutive game, they again fell apart in the second half, allowing Oklahoma City to cruise to a 3-0 series lead.
LeBron James spoke after the game, highlighting the Thunder’s depth and relentless energy while emphasising that the Lakers still believe they have a chance to push the series further. The Thunder outscored Los Angeles 74-49 after halftime and once more dominated the third quarter, continuing a pattern that has largely defined this series.
“They’re solid from top to bottom,” James said after the game. “And they never take their foot off the gas.”
Oklahoma City converted at a 56 per cent clip and spread the scoring load, even though reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was only 7-of-20 from the field with 23 points. The Thunder’s supporting players reinforced the effort alongside Chet Holmgren, Ajay Mitchell, Jared McCain, and Alex Caruso.
LeBron pointed directly to the third quarter as the turning point for Game 3.
“Obviously, the third quarter is where it starts,” he noted. “We lacked the energy and effort, and they dropped over 30 points on us.”
Despite strong first-half performances from Rui Hachimura and Luke Kennard, giving Los Angeles a one-point lead at halftime, Oklahoma City seized control right after the break, forcing turnovers and capitalising on easy transition baskets.
“In that third quarter, we couldn’t hit shots,” James admitted. “We defended but didn’t get stops, which let them take control.”
The Lakers were outscored 33-20 in that quarter alone. James managed just one field goal, while Austin Reaves went scoreless in the period.
James finished the night with 19 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, but his shooting was off at 7-for-19, and he posted a minus-24 plus-minus rating.
Los Angeles also turned the ball over 17 times, which led to 30 points for the Thunder. Oklahoma City outscored the Lakers 64-44 in the paint as well.
When pressed about the frustration of falling behind 3-0, James kept his response measured.
“I can’t say I’m not disappointed or angry,” he said. “You’re obviously disappointed being down 3-0, but we still have life. That’s all you can ask for. We have to be much better on Monday.”
Lakers coach JJ Redick backed up James’ take, describing Oklahoma City as an elite team in the NBA.
“They’ve beaten us three straight games,” Redick said. “They’re a really impressive basketball team.”
Redick previously drew comparisons between the Thunder and dominant teams like the 1990s Chicago Bulls and the 2017-18 Golden State Warriors. James acknowledged Oklahoma City’s versatility and depth, which have caused significant matchup problems.
“They have the right personnel to adapt to whatever you throw out there,” James said. “And they stay productive no matter who’s on the floor.”
Even with Gilgeous-Alexander’s uneven scoring, the Thunder have continued to win comfortably. Holmgren’s inside presence has been dominant, and Mitchell once again put up a strong stat line with 24 points and 10 assists.
James wasn’t surprised by the Thunder’s sustained pressure, given their roster makeup.
“You’ve seen them develop over the years,” he said. “They have a lot of players who can do multiple things, and that depth really helps.”
The Lakers are still without Luka Doncic, sidelined with a Grade 2 hamstring strain from April, which has hampered their offensive rhythm, especially late in games.
Facing elimination now, James insisted the team’s focus remains squarely on Game 4 rather than any bigger questions about the group’s future.
"No", James said when asked if they considered this might be their last run together. “We’re just concentrating on the moment and moving forward from there.”
Game 4 is set for Monday night in Los Angeles, where the Lakers will fight to avoid a sweep and keep the series alive before heading back to Oklahoma City.
MAX HOLLOWAY BREAKS SILENCE ON PARAMOUNT REGARDING CONOR MCGREGOR UFC 329 RUMORS
Relive the 13-year history between Holloway and McGregor as the Hawaiian star targets International Fight Week for ultimate revenge.
Max Holloway is hungry for payback against Conor McGregor as rumours swirl about a rematch.
McGregor hasn’t stepped inside the octagon since that quick loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in 2021. His last win was way back in 2020 when he steamrolled Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone in under a minute. He was supposed to fight Michael Chandler in 2024, but that fell through after he got injured.
Now, at 37, McGregor’s back in training and eyeing a return for UFC 329 on July 11, right as International Fight Week rolls around. Before that, he missed out on a shot at the White House card, so this July date is shaping up to be his next window.
Dana White has flip-flopped a bit on McGregor’s comeback, but now he sounds confident: “It’s looking good. Believe me, you know once we get a deal done with him, we will announce it.” And right now, Holloway looks like the top pick for the fight, 13 years after they first went at it.
Back then, McGregor beat Holloway by decision. Since then, Holloway’s had his own ups and downs; he lost the BMF belt to Charles Oliveira in March and hasn’t fought since. Still, he’s eager to get back, especially if it means a shot at Conor.
Talking to Paramount, Holloway laid it out: “We have history. We fought a long time ago. If someone’s got a win over me, I want that back. If he really is serious about returning, and it looks like he is, then this is an exciting fight. He looks hungry. He even did a boxing exhibition not too long ago, so it looks like he’s really coming back. I just want another shot. Any fight with Conor is huge, but with our past? It means even more. If I can knock a few names off my list, that’s great.”
For now, Holloway hasn’t heard anything official from the UFC about July. "Maybe we'll see what happens,” he said. “I’m seeing all the same talk you are. I haven’t heard anything yet, but July would work for me. They say you’re only as good as your last fight, and I want people to forget about that one as soon as possible.”
