Rodon to start season on injured list due to a left forearm strain

The Yankees will have to wait to deploy their new ace.

Carlos Rodon will begin the season on the injured list due to a mild left forearm strain, GM Brian Cashman told reporters on Thursday at the Yankees spring complex in Tampa. The former No. 3 overall pick will be shut down from throwing for 7-10 days.

“In a perfect world, sometime in April,” Cashman said. “I’m glad our trainers jumped on it, I’m glad our trainers said something. The finding was something but not significant or serious …

“If this was in season, pennant race, late in the game, he’d probably still be up and running. He had this last May with the Giants and he didn’t miss any time with it.”

The southpaw has made just one spring appearance in which he allowed five runs over two-plus innings against the Braves on March 1.

Rodon signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the Yankees this past winter after two consecutive All-star appearances in 2021 and 2022. The 30-year-old registered a 2.88 in 31 starts with the Giants last season.

Earlier in his career, Rodon was plagued by injuries including undergoing Tommy John surgery during the 2019 season. The hard-throwing lefty made just 41 starts combined between 2017-2020.

Cashman understood his new starter’s injury history when he inked him to a longterm contract.

“It’s got risk, but I think it’s factored into the contract,” Cashman said at Rodon’s introductory press conference on Dec. 22. “Typically, pitchers that perform the way he has the last two years, you’re looking at probably even more. I can’t deny that he has a history of injuries prior to the last two seasons.

“Certainly the hope is that he’s found his area of comfort in his professional career. I think Aaron spoke to the journey you’re on where you try to navigate a 162-game season. There’s a lot of different areas from mechanics to in-between start routine as well as treatment levels.”

Relievers down: Tommy Kahnle and Lou Trivino will also join Rodon on the injured list to begin the season, Cashman said Thursday.

Kahnle — who signed a two-year, $11.5 million contract with the Bombers this offseason — is dealing with biceps tendinitis while Trivino has an elbow ligament strain.

The Yankees’ pitching depth is already being tested with approximately three weeks to go in spring training.

High praise indeed: Anthony Volpe has been the talk of Tampa.

The Yankees’ top prospect came into camp riding the motivation from a reported phone call between himself and GM Brian Cashman where he was told he’s in the mix to start at shortstop for the Yankees on Opening Day.

The 21-year-old is 6-for17 (.353) with a homer, two doubles, two stolen bases and has made a series of flashy defensive plays from both shortstop and second base. The New Jersey native is in the thick of a position battle trying to fend off incumbent Isiah Kinerfalefa and fellow prospect Oswald Peraza.

However, if the opinion of the clubs’ captain holds any water, Volpe may have a leg up on the competition.

“I think he’s got all the tools,” said Aaron Judge after Wednesday’s game against the Cardinals at the Yankees’ spring complex. “He checks a lot of boxes defensively, offensively. He’s got the speed… My thing has always been, if you’re the best player, it shouldn’t matter your age. You should be up helping the New York Yankees.”

Because of Volpe’s lack of Triple-a at-bats — 99 total in 2022 — the odds were and still may be stacked against him breaking camp with the Bombers pointing to per aza— who made a postseason start in 2022 alcs— as the favorite.

And it’s clear that Volpe is impressing the right people in spring camp.