For the first time in over four months, New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez is back on the field as he begins to resume baseball activities following left hip surgery.
According to ESPN, Rodriguez was finally able to play catch and do some light hitting off a tee at the Yankees minor league facility. One of many current Yankees on the disabled list, the 37-year-old is chomping at the bit to finally return to the Bronx.
"It feels good to be back out in uniform," Rodriguez told ESPN. "It's been a rough stretch with the rehab, obviously. It's small bites at a time."
RELATED: A-Rod Salary More Than Entire Astros Roster Combined; Reactions
Despite major injuries to key figures including Rodriguez, first baseman Mark Teixeira, centerfielder Curtis Granderson, infielder Kevin Youkilis and shortstop Derek Jeter, the Yankees have played solid baseball since opening the season with an 8-2 loss to the rival Red Sox at home.
Through 30 games, the Yankees are 18-12 and only 2 games behind the division-leading Boston Red Sox for first place in the American League East. Not bad for a team that was expected by many to be toward the bottom of an extremely competitive division.
The healthy additions of the injured Bronx Bombers should only help the team excel as the season progresses.
While it is expected that Teixeira, Jeter, Granderson, Youkilis and catcher Francisco Cervelli will return relatively soon, Alex Rodriguez may be forced to wait a bit longer as he recovers from his hip surgery while getting re-acclimated to game speed.
"I'm working 24-7 to get back on the field," Rodriguez told reporters from the New York Daily News. "The way the season ended last year was very embarrassing. It was a devastating sweep against Detroit. I have a lot of unfinished business and I'm looking forward to getting back and helping my team win."
RELATED: A-Rod New Love? Who Is Rebeca Yunen Finke?
Since he was first called up to the Major League level in 1994 as a member of the Seattle Mariners, Rodriguez has gone on to hit a career .300, drive in 1,950 runs and slug 647 home runs. The 647 home run total is good for fifth on the all-time list.
In addition to his eye-popping numbers, the superstar third baseman has been to 14 All-Star Games while winning the Silver Slugger Award 10 times, American League MVP three times and Gold Glove Award twice, certainly putting him in the conversation as one of the best players to ever play the game of baseball.
Rodriguez now begins a 30-day rehab schedule that he hopes will help him rejoin the Major League club as the top-level player he was before injury began to set it.
"We're taking it four weeks at a time," Rodriguez told the Rutland Herald. "I'm really looking forward to getting back on the field close to 100 percent and being who I am."
Asked if he thinks he'll be able to return this season, Rodriguez didn't respond with a potential date in mind. "I really hope so," he told the Daily News. "That's as specific as I'll get."
The Yankees really hope their power-hitting third baseman will return to the lineup relatively soon as well.
Watch A-Rod Slug His 600th Career Home Run:
© 2024 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
