TAMPA, Fla. -- Carlos Rodón couldn¡¯t wait to put his disastrous 2023 season in the rearview mirror. As the last outs of the Yankees¡¯ campaign ticked down in Kansas City last fall, the left-hander¡¯s bags were packed, already plotting the highway escape route he¡¯d use to clear his mind.

His final outing had been nothing short of awful, trudging to the visitors¡¯ clubhouse unable to retire any of the eight Royals he faced on Sept. 29. With his club trailing early, Rod¨®n had no choice but to sit and stew -- that evening and for the next two games until the schedule mercifully ended.

¡°I just got in the car and drove away,¡± Rod¨®n said. ¡°I left it there at Kauffman Stadium. That¡¯s a pretty crappy way to end the season, for sure. I was hurt and I wasn¡¯t very good, and I know that. There were a lot of things that I could have been better at.¡±

Though Rod¨®n said that he doesn¡¯t spend much time revisiting that awful start in Kansas City, there was some clean-up to perform. Rod¨®n noticeably turned his back on pitching coach Matt Blake during a mound visit, an act for which the hurler would later apologize; Blake, who accepted, said he and Rod¨®n are fine.

¡°I¡¯m an emotional pitcher,¡± Rod¨®n said. ¡°It can take me to the highest highs and to the lowest lows, and I¡¯ve been to both. I know both sides, and I don¡¯t like the lowest lows, I¡¯ll tell you that.¡±

Cruising out of the greater Kansas City area with his cousin, Ethan, there was no hurry to rejoin civilization. Rod¨®n said they spent a few weeks at a cabin, gradually flushing the bitter flavor of his first Yankees season.

They had no reason to recite the numbers, ugly as they were: a 3-8 record and a 6.85 ERA in 14 starts. Nor was there discussion of his physical maladies, which included injuries to his left forearm, back and left hamstring. Rod¨®n knew he must be in a better place, mentally and physically, before returning home to Indiana for the offseason.

¡°We just had a good time; just hung out and enjoyed the outdoors,¡± Rod¨®n said.

The returns on Rod¨®n¡¯s winter work have been the talk of camp. He prioritized cleaner eating during the offseason, appearing noticeably trimmer after being listed at 255 pounds last year. Rod¨®n joked that his improved conditioning might be a result of spending months chasing three kids around.

But there is no fooling about this: Rod¨®n¡¯s velocity has jumped. He reported to the Yankees¡¯ complex in early January, which Blake called ¡°a huge gesture to the organization that he wants to move beyond 2023.¡±

¡°From where he is right now to 12 months ago, it¡¯s night and day,¡± manager Aaron Boone said. ¡°He¡¯s just in a way better place. He had the offseason and the winter that he needed to have to give himself the best chance to be successful. He¡¯s checked that first box.¡±

Added general manager Brian Cashman: ¡°I¡¯m really pleased with the position he¡¯s put himself in. It just goes to show you that he¡¯s coming after it hard and wants it bad.¡±

During a live batting practice session this week, Rod¨®n¡¯s fastball sat between 94-95 mph, touching 97 mph. Nestor Cortes, who was in the dugout for that outing, said that Rod¨®n looks ¡°really, really sharp.¡± The velocity represents a significant increase from the 88s and 90s that Rod¨®n was showing at this time last year.

¡°Last year, my move was a little wonky down the mound,¡± Rod¨®n said. ¡°I was trying to find it the whole year. I want to hold that, keep how I move on the mound in my brain. I just don¡¯t want to forget it. I¡¯m always thinking about it.¡±

Said Blake: ¡°He¡¯s just doing it in a much more athletic way, and a little more efficiently.¡±

That raises the Yankees¡¯ confidence that Rod¨®n can handcuff batters as he did in 2021-22 for the White Sox and Giants, when he earned back-to-back All-Star selections and registered down-ballot Cy Young Award votes.

¡°I expect him to handle his business like a pro, like he is,¡± said ace Gerrit Cole. ¡°He's a fierce competitor. I think we will all be thrilled if he could return back to that peak form, but with that said, we can win a lot of games if he's just out there competing for us.¡±

Rod¨®n tossed a career-high 178 innings for San Francisco in 2022, a topic that Boone has hammered at, reminding Rod¨®n: ¡°If you¡¯re in a position to handle 25-30 starts, we¡¯re going to be in a much better spot.¡±

¡°For me, a realistic goal is just to make every start. The numbers will pile up and take care of themselves,¡± Rod¨®n said. ¡°I just need to stay on the field.¡±