While enjoying his best season in the pinstripes, the veteran pitcher has been on the receiving end of a disturbing wave of hate. His response? Calm. Defiant. Unflinching.
“We’ll be fine,” Rodón told The Athletic. “We’re the big boys.”
But behind those four words lies a growing crisis in modern sports…
At 32 years old, and in his 11th MLB season, Carlos Rodón has experienced the highs and lows of being a high-profile pitcher. But nothing compares to what he’s endured this summer.
After the loss to the Boston Red Sox, Rodón’s wife, Ashley, revealed on Instagram that their inboxes were flooded with hateful, graphic messages — some of which explicitly wanted Rodón and his family to be physically harmed.
Athlon Sports confirmed that these were not just angry fan rants. They were outright threats.
Rodón’s case is not an isolated one. Astros pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. and Red Sox relief pitcher Liam Hendriks also reported receiving online threats after poor performances.
In McCullers’ case, authorities traced the incident to a drunken foreign bettor who lost money and decided to lose his temper.
The message is clear: Rage in sports fueled by a culture of gambling is on the rise.
While some players have fought back or disappeared from social media, Rodón has taken a more realistic, resilient approach.
“We’re going to be fine. We’re big boys.”
No drama. No bombast. Just quiet strength.
His statement was more than a denial — it was a reminder of the mental strength it takes to be a professional athlete in the internet age.
What makes the hate all the more puzzling is that Rodón is in the midst of his best season with the Yankees.
Record: 10–6
ERA: 3.08
Strikeouts–Walks: 135–41
Innings Pitched: 119 2/3
bWAR: 2.9 (his best since joining the NYY)
AL Rank in Strikeouts: 4th overall
He’s been dominant. He’s been dependable. He kept the Yankees alive. Yet he was still targeted by hate—proof that no performance is safe from the toxicity of online fanaticism.
In an age where athletes can be targeted for even the slightest mistake, Carlos Rodón’s simple statement is like a fastball that hits home:
“We’re big boys.”
He didn’t flinch. He didn’t give up. He simply reminded us that behind every player is a man, a father, a husband—and in Rodón’s case, a warrior who knows exactly who he is.