It’s been a long and bumpy road for Alex Rodriguez over the past 9-10 months. The embattled former MVP has endured hip surgery, a long rehabilitation process and new PED allegations stemming from the Biogenesis clinic in Miami, Fla. However, for the time being, there’s some light at the end of the tunnel as A-Rod will make his final push towards being back in the Bronx. He’ll start for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre tonight and over the weekend.
Through his first few games or so, A-Rod looked unbalanced at the plate – something that was expected after such a long layoff. He hit a lot of grounders, rolling over on pitches he didn’t recognize. However, recently he’s starting to drive the ball – even hitting a 400-foot home run on a 94 mph fastball from a lefty the other day. When A-Rod gets the ball into the air to center or right-center field, good things usually happen.
Yesterday on New York sports radio WFAN, A-Rod said that he expects to rejoin the Yankees in Texas next Monday. This would obviously provide a big boost to the team, getting a righty bat that can still be somewhat of a threat in the lineup. In 10 rehab games, A-Rod is hitting .179 (5-for-28) with one homer and seven strikeouts. Both he and the Yankees hope he can continue to drive the ball and improve over the weekend before making his triumphant return.
Any rumors about suspensions being served this season with regards to the Biogensis investigation have been put to bed. Word has come out that any suspension would be served next season, thanks in part to a long appeal process. For now, A-Rod will play out the rest of 2013.
