New York Yankees fans fired up as Carlos Rodon makes his Spring Training debut: "The beginning of the 2023 Cy Young race" "RoDawg time" 

Starting pitcher Carlos Rodon, the prized free agent acquisition of the New York Yankees this winter, made his Spring Training debut on Sunday. Needless to say, fans were fired up.

Rodon was their big free-agent signing this offseason and they locked the 30-year-old up to a six-year, $162 million contract.

The debut didn't go exactly as planned, as the Atlanta Braves tagged Carlos Rodon for five earned runs in two innings in the Yankees' 10-6 win. Rodon struck out two and walked one, but allowed solo home runs to Matt Olson and Austin Riley.

Still, this did not douse the optimism Yankees Nation holds for the eight-year veteran hurler. Rodon is expected to fit in as New York's No. 2 starter behind Garrit Cole.

Carlos Rodon boosted his free agent status this past offseason after putting in two solid seasons in 2021 and 2022. He looks to have completely recovered from his Tommy John surgery in 2019. Rodon claimed consecutive All-Star appearances with the Chicago White Sox and San Francisco Giants, respectively, over the past two seasons.

Selected by the White Sox with the third pick in the first round in the 2014 draft, Rodon had moments of brilliance and frustration over his first four seasons. He has ligament repair surgery after just six starts in the 2019 season.

He re-appeared with the White Sox late in the 2020 season to find his bearings before returning full-time in 2021 as a completely different pitcher. After averaging an ERA in the 4.00s since his 2015 debut, Rodon posted a 2.37 ERA, a 13-5 record and a career-high 185 strikeouts.

However, Chicago let him walk as a free agent after the 2021 season, and he signed a two-year deal with the Giants. This had an opt-out clause after a year.

New York Yankees counting on Carlos Rodon this season

Carlos Rodon #55 of the New York Yankees poses for a portrait during media day

After proving his 2021 season wasn't a fluke by going 14-8 with a 2.88 ERA and a career-best 237 strikeouts, Carlos Rodon opted out of his deal. He was then picked up by the New York Yankees.

Rodon finished fifth in the American League Cy Young Award balloting in 2021 and was sixth in the NL Cy Young race in 2022.

If the Yankees are to achieve their goal of winning the World Series, they will certainly need Rodon to be at his best. If he can replicate his previous form, there is every chance they can do it. Not only that, Rodon could potentially win the Cy Young Award with New York.