Rodón 'looking ahead' amid second IL stint

CHICAGO -- In the aftermath of leaving his start early on Sunday with left hamstring tightness, Yankees southpaw Carlos Rodón made his case to avoid going on the injured list.

“I gave it my best go,” Rodón said on Wednesday. “I felt like I had a good argument, but it’s not up to me.”

Rodón underwent an MRI on Monday, which revealed a “low-grade strain,” manager Aaron Boone said. The Yankees skipper said it’s “minor,” but New York erred on the side of caution and placed Rodón on the 15-day IL.

It’s an overall frustrating development for Rodón, whose first season with the Yankees has been impacted by injuries. The 30-year-old, who signed a six-year, $162 million deal with New York last offseason, missed the first three months with a left forearm strain.

He made his season debut in July and is back on the IL after making six starts, posting a 7.33 ERA.

“It's pretty frustrating,” Rodón said. “At this point, it's kind of one of those things that's behind me and it is what it is. I was out there competing and felt the hamstring. Just got to put that behind me and get ready 13 days from now to take the ball.

“That's kind of where I'm at -- looking ahead, not behind.”

The Yankees and Rodón are both hopeful he will only be on the IL for the 15-day minimum. He threw Tuesday in New York and then again Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field, working up to 120 feet on flat ground before the Yankees’ series finale against the White Sox. He also did some agility work in the outfield.

Rodón and the team will map out the next steps in his progression in the coming days, which will include a bullpen session.

“He seems to be doing well,” Boone said Wednesday. “Again, he's a guy that wanted to pitch through this. I think it was going to be tough pitching on the sixth or seventh day for him, and probably slightly compromised.

“Not saying he couldn't have pitched through it, but I do think it’s the right move, just to give him an extra turn through to make sure he's physically where he needs to be, especially to get to the point where we need him to get.”

Ultimately, Rodón knows the Yankees have his best interest in mind.

“I understand that they’re trying to protect me, and this is kind of a long-haul thing,” Rodón said. “Obviously, I want to be on the mound and compete, as any one of my teammates. Should be the same way. But it's one of those things that it's not up to me.”