NC State Professional Athletes

Rodón Writes His Name Into the Record Books

NC State's most prominent MLB alumni had a week that ranged from the historic to the humbling — and Carlos Rodón was firmly in the former category.

On the 25th anniversary of September 11th, Rodón took the mound at Yankee Stadium for the Subway Series opener against the Mets and delivered one of the most emotionally charged performances of his career. The lefthander went 6.1 innings, surrendered just one earned run, and punched out eight batters, pushing his ERA to a gleaming 2.94. The Yankees won, and Rodón earned the kind of praise reserved for October arms. "He threw the heck out of the ball," came the verdict from the Yankees' dugout, per Yahoo Sports.

But the bigger story is what that outing confirmed: Rodón is now just the second pitcher in modern MLB history to accomplish a rare statistical feat — a distinction Heavy Sports reported he shares with only one predecessor in the entire modern era. The specifics of the milestone underscore just how locked-in he has been down the stretch, the kind of sustained excellence that quietly rewrites the record books while a pennant race rages around it.

It wasn't a one-night stand, either. Earlier in the week, Rodón struck out seven over five innings in a 5-1 Yankees win over the Padres, a performance that helped New York clinch that series. The Wolfpack product has rounded into genuine postseason form at the best possible moment.

Turner Searching for His Own Momentum

The week was considerably more complicated for Trea Turner. The Phillies shortstop is mired in what multiple outlets have described as a lost season, his .239 average a far cry from the production Philadelphia paid for when he signed his massive contract. Sports Illustrated outlined several contributing factors to his struggles, while the New York Times noted the ball remains in his hands — a nod to the agency he still holds in shaping how this chapter ends.

There were flickers of life. Turner went 2-for-however-many with a home run, two RBI, and two runs scored against the Astros on September 9th, then backed it up with another multi-hit game the following day. A solo home run in the Phillies' 11-7 victory over Houston showed the pop is still there. But the consistency hasn't followed, and manager Don Mattingly's lineup decisions drew pointed reactions from the Philly fanbase heading into that Astros series. Turner finished the week hitting .239, right where he started it.

The Phillies are still in the thick of the postseason picture; Turner's ability to find his footing in September could be the difference between a deep run and an early exit.

Around the Diamond

Patrick Bailey had a quiet but steady week behind the plate for Cleveland, collecting hits in multiple games and contributing an RBI Tuesday against the Orioles while hovering around the .209 mark. The Guardians catcher is providing reliable defense in a Cleveland club still chasing its own playoff positioning.

Andrew Knizner saw action for San Francisco, picking up a hit and a run Saturday against San Diego, though his .159 average reflects the limited offensive role he's filled for the Giants this season.

For NC State, the week belonged to Rodón — and it wasn't close.

Two of NC State's most prominent MLB alumni are sharing an uncomfortable spotlight this week — and neither is wearing it well.

Trea Turner: Lineup Demotion Talk in Philly

The conversation around Trea Turner in Philadelphia has turned genuinely uncomfortable. The Sporting News labeled the veteran shortstop one of MLB's "biggest disappointments," and it's hard to argue the point. Turner entered the week hitting .245, and while he managed a 2-hit performance against the Angels on Aug. 29, the broader trend has been discouraging: a .239-.241 range across multiple midweek games against the Mariners, with the Phillies dropping a lopsided 9-2 decision on Aug. 25.

The debate over whether Philadelphia should drop Turner in the lineup has spilled into the open. Yahoo Sports framed the situation bluntly — the Phillies seem resistant to the move, but their hand may eventually be forced. The club has so far stood pat, keeping Turner in his customary spot, but with a contending team that cannot afford passengers in the heart of its order, patience is a finite resource. At .241 on the season, Turner's production has simply not matched the weight of his contract or his reputation.

Carlos Rodón: 'Good Enough' Isn't Enough

In the Bronx, Carlos Rodón is operating in a different kind of pressure cooker. With New York's rotation thinned by injuries, every Rodón start carries outsized importance — and the results have been a study in mixed signals.

On Aug. 23 against Toronto, Rodón went four innings, allowing one earned run and striking out just two. It was serviceable but uninspiring. He was better six days later against Boston on Aug. 29, working 4.2 innings, surrendering two earned runs, and punching out five — enough to help the Yankees to a win, but still leaving his ERA at 3.20 and, by his own admission, leaving things to work on. Rodón acknowledged the room for improvement after the outing, a candid assessment that tracked with a stretch of starts that have been "good enough" more often than dominant.

For a rotation carrying injuries and leaning hard on every healthy arm, good enough is a thin margin. Rodón's strikeout totals have been uneven, and the Yankees need more length and more consistency if they intend to push deep into September with genuine postseason intent.

Around the Pack

Patrick Bailey had a quieter week behind the plate for Cleveland, though he did contribute a hit and an RBI in the Guardians' 4-3 win over the Rockies on Aug. 23. His season average sits at .194-.199 — below where Cleveland would want their starting catcher — but his Aug. 26 outing against the Angels stood out for a different reason: he drew four walks in the Guardians' 6-5 win, showing patience at the plate even when the hits weren't coming.

Andrew Knizner continued to see time for San Francisco, posting a .200 average range across the week with a hit and a run scored against the Reds on Aug. 26. The Giants dropped to the Diamondbacks 9-5 on Aug. 29 with Knizner in the lineup.

The week underscored a theme that has followed NC State's most prominent big leaguers through 2026: potential and pedigree are not in question, but production remains the open file.