WEIGHTING GAME: After skipping Friday’s rained-out rehab game, Alex Rodriguez finished his stint with Single-A Tampa this weekend — he had a well-struck double yesterday — before joining Double-A Trenton tonight. (
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TAMPA, Fla. — The clock is ticking for Alex Rodriguez. That goes for the remaining dates until July 22, when the Yankees third baseman is scheduled to be activated following a 20-day rehab stint, and the timing of a possible suspension stemming from MLB’s investigation into Rodriguez’s alleged involvement with the shuttered Biogenesis clinic and banned performance-enhancing drugs.
After playing what was expected to be his final rehab game with Single-A Tampa yesterday before a move up to Double-A Trenton today, Rodriguez said he still expects to be back by July 22 — and that he was unaware of a potential plea deal with MLB.
“I don’t know anything about that,” Rodriguez said of possible negotiations between his lawyers and the league. “Due to respecting the [process], we’re going to let the due process play out.”
The same could be said for his rehab process.
“We’re on schedule,” he said.
In his eighth rehab game, Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with two RBIs as the designated hitter for Tampa in a 4-3 win over Bradenton at Steinbrenner Field. It was his second game back after he did not show up for Friday’s game following his meeting with baseball officials.
According to sources, Rodriguez knew of the organization’s wishes for him to play for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in Buffalo this weekend to avoid the predicted rain in Florida.
When asked whether there were a disconnect between himself and the Yankees, Rodriguez responded: “I wouldn’t say that. I thought it was a very good week. Things are moving forward. I feel good about everything right now.”
That is somewhat difficult to believe. But general manager Brian Cashman said there was “no miscommunication” between the two. And Rodriguez said he’s fine physically.
“I feel pretty good,” he said. “I don’t think I was 100 percent since I was a senior in high school. [Saturday] I ran my best time [on the basepaths], so my legs feel good.”
At least Rodriguez finally managed to show some life at the plate yesterday. His fifth-inning double was the most impressive shot since his rehab began 12 days ago. He said he could not tell if the ball had a chance to get out of the park.
“It’s been a long time since I hit a homer, but I felt good,” Rodriguez said. “I think getting the ball in the air for me is probably the most important thing. Getting the ball up in the air to center field and the other way — to me, those are good signs.”
There haven’t been many for Rodriguez, who will turn 38 this month and is recovering from left hip surgery, his second hip procedure in four years.
Rodriguez is 3-for-20 in his rehab, which has been split between Tampa and Charleston, and has looked anything but spry on the basepaths.
Despite that, and the looming threat of suspension from the Biogenesis scandal, Rodriguez still believes he will return to the Yankees on July 22 in Texas.
“That’s the target,” Rodriguez said. “I’m very much looking forward to that date.”
Said Cashman, who watched Rodriguez’s at-bats remotely from The Bronx, of July 22: “That’s the goal.”
In his other plate appearances, Rodriguez walked, struck out on a foul tip and reached on a fielder’s choice. He picked up an RBI on the play when his fly ball to right was dropped, but Mason Williams was forced at second.
“That’s one thing about A-ball,” Rodriguez said. “You see things you’ve never seen before.”
Tonight, he is scheduled to get a taste of Double-A when Trenton visits Reading.
“I’m very excited to be going up,” Rodriguez said.