Battered around
Yankees left-hander Carlos Rodón allowed four homers to minor leaguers over three innings during a simulated game with the wind blowing out in Florida.
“I don’t want to give up homers, but I’m glad I give it up to our guys,” Rodón said. “Makes them feel good about themselves.”
Josh Breaux, Agustin Ramirez, Ben Rice and Jose Rojas went deep. After Rojas’ homer in the final inning, Rodón struck out three of his final four batters, including top prospect Spencer Jones twice.
“I had some sequences there at the end,” Rodón said. “Got some work on curveballs and work on the cutter, so it’s good.”
While the outing wasn’t great, Rodon feels healthy and that’s most important after an injury-marred 2023 when he went 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA in 14 starts.
Hello, Julio
Seattle center fielder Julio Rodríguez is scheduled to make his Cactus League debut Saturday when the Mariners face Oakland. Rodríguez had been limited for about a week due to some left hand soreness.
The good news didn’t stop there for Seattle. Top reliever Matt Brash is not expected to need surgery after having inflammation in his right elbow. Seattle general manager Justin Hollander told reporters in Peoria, Arizona, that after several exams, Brash was told he could resume throwing next week. He will still need a full build-up and won’t be ready for the start of the regular season.
Brash appeared in a big league-high 78 games last season and had a 3.06 ERA with 107 strikeouts in 70 2/3 innings.
Seattle also hopes to see infielder Luis Urías in spring training games next week after he was slowed by a shoulder issue.
Old friend
The Yankees will get to see an old friend in a couple of weeks after 41-yearold Robinson Canó signed with Mexico’s Diablos Rojos. Canó spent 17 seasons in the majors, most of that time with the Yankees and Seattle Mariners.
New York is set to play exhibition games against at the Diablos Rojos on March 24-25.
Bumps and bruises
Reigning NL MVP Ronald Acuña Jr. was scratched from Atlanta’s lineup on Friday for precautionary reasons due to right knee soreness.
Houston RHP Justin Verlander is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Sunday as he works his way back from a shoulder issue that led to a delayed arrival to spring training. Verlander threw a bullpen Tuesday and could progress to facing hitters if his next outing goes well.
Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash told reporters that infielder Yu Chang’s oblique injury will sideline him for six to eight weeks.