Carlos Rodón
A flame-throwing left-handed pitcher whose career rebounded from injury to deliver one of baseball's most dominant modern seasons.
Born 1992 (age 34)·American baseball player·Birthday: December 10·Millennials
Biography
Carlos Rodón's journey in Major League Baseball has been a testament to resilience and raw power. Drafted highly by the Chicago White Sox, his early career was hampered by injuries, including Tommy John surgery. For a time, he seemed destined to be a 'what-if' story. Then, in 2021, fully healthy and with a refined arsenal, he exploded. Pitching for the White Sox, he unleashed a season of sheer dominance, throwing a no-hitter and striking out batters at an elite rate, which earned him an All-Star selection and a lucrative contract. His signature is a blistering fastball that seems to defy hitters, combined with a devastating slider. Rodón's story isn't just about talent; it's about a pitcher who refused to be defined by setbacks and remade himself into one of the game's most feared starters.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Carlos was born in 1992, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Carlos Was Born
The biggest hits of 1992
#1 Movie
Aladdin
Best Picture
Unforgiven
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Carlos's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1992Born
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1997Started school
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2005Became a teenager
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2008Could drive
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2010Could vote
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2013Turned 21
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2022Turned 30
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 34 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Pitched a no-hitter for the Chicago White Sox on April 14, 2021, against the Cleveland Guardians.
- Earned MLB All-Star selections in 2021 and 2022, showcasing his status as an elite pitcher.
- Finished fifth in American League Cy Young Award voting in 2021 after leading the league in ERA+ and strikeouts per nine innings.
- Signed a six-year, $162 million contract with the New York Yankees in December 2022.
Did You Know?
He played college baseball for the North Carolina State Wolfpack and was the third overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft.
His father, also named Carlos, was a professional baseball player in the Dominican Republic.
He is one of the few pitchers to have thrown a no-hitter and also recorded a 20-strikeout game in his professional career (achieved in the minor leagues).
He underwent Tommy John surgery in 2019, which required a long rehabilitation before his career-best season.
“My slider doesn't care about your scouting report.”
