Yankees Pitcher Can Finally Button His Shirt After Surgery

Carlos Rodón couldn't perform one of life's simplest tasks before his October surgery. The Yankees pitcher's elbow was so damaged he couldn't button his own shirt or touch the top of his head with his left arm.

Today, the 33-year-old lefty is throwing again and celebrating a recovery that feels almost too good to be true. Just three months after surgeons removed bone fragments from his elbow, Rodón says he feels "great" and is back on the mound in Florida preparing for his return.

"I've been throwing a lot lately," Rodón told reporters at the New York Baseball Writers' Gala on Saturday. "Just trying to lube up this elbow joint and get it going for the season. They took a lot of bones out, but it's better now."

The difference between this recovery and his 2019 Tommy John surgery feels like night and day. That grueling 16-month rehab meant watching an entire season from the sidelines, doing repetitive exercises while his teammates played. This time, he was throwing again after just eight weeks.

"Tommy John can be definitely a lonely place because it's such a long and monotonous rehab," Rodón explained. "This one's a little different. It doesn't really feel like much of a rehab."

Why This Inspires

Rodón's comeback story reminds us that sometimes the right medical intervention can transform our quality of life almost overnight. From struggling with basic daily tasks to throwing a baseball in two months shows what's possible when skilled surgeons meet determined athletes.

His optimism also reflects a deeper truth about perseverance. Having been through the marathon of Tommy John recovery, Rodón knows how to appreciate a faster journey back to doing what he loves.

While he won't be ready for Opening Day, Rodón hopes to miss minimal time beyond that. Given his career-best 2025 season with 195 innings pitched and a sixth-place Cy Young Award finish, Yankees fans have plenty of reason to share his excitement.

From unable to button a shirt to throwing strikes again, that's progress worth celebrating.