With the Yankees sending Luis Gil down following another rough outing on Sunday, it created another opening in their starting rotation.
Some had thought Carlos Rodon could be a possibility the next time through, but they decided to look elsewhere with the lefty still needing two more rehab outings.
Instead, it’ll be top prospect Elmer Rodriguez to make his big-league debut.
“He’s a guy we view that’s gonna have a long career,” Aaron Boone said. “He’s coming off a phenomenal year at Double-A and a taste of Triple-A, and has gotten off to a great start there this year — he’s earned the opportunity.
“We feel good about him taking the ball and he’s very, very capable.”
Rodriguez certainly has gotten off to a terrific start, building off of his two strong Grapefruit League appearances and lone scoreless outing with Puerto Rico at the WBC.
The talented 22-year-old has pitched to a stellar 1.27 ERA and 0.89 WHIP with 20 strikeouts and just one homer allowed over his first four outings down in Scranton.
“It’s just the preparation,” he told YES Network’s Meredith Marakovitz. “Just having that mentality to go out and just compete, have fun, and trust my stuff — I know I have good stuff, I just try to go out and bring the best I can.”
Though Rodriguez is known for being calm, cool, and collected on the mound he’s expecting some nerves when he toes that big-league rubber for the first time in Wednesday’s series finale.
“I feel like they are obviously going to be there,” he said. “But I’m excited and happy be here — hopefully I’ll be able to control them and just go out there and have some fun.”
Rodriguez is expected to take two turns through the rotation before Rodon is ready to return.
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