Alex Rodriguez is getting back in swing.
The injured Yankees superstar hit against live pitching for the first time since breaking his left hand on July 24, and emerged from the session feeling fine. He is slated to hit again today, and general manager Brian Cashman said the third baseman potentially could start a rehab assignment as early as this weekend.
“So far, so good,” Rodriguez said. “Another good hurdle.”
Rodriguez said his body is “not yet” at the point he wants it, but he is getting close.
“I think my legs are coming under me,” he said. “I see light at the end of the tunnel. My expectation is to come back and come back at full strength and help this team win.”
In addition, the 37-year-old slugger said it remained painful when he swings.
“Naturally you’re always going to feel a little something,” he said, “[but the] X-rays and pictures look good and the doctors have assured me that I have the green light.”
Girardi said he believed Rodriguez was likely to play in a couple of rehab games. The Yankees’ minor league affiliates each have their regular seasons ending between Sunday and next Wednesday, though Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Double-A Trenton should make the playoffs and High-A Tampa might as well, which would extend their seasons. If need be, Rodriguez could join one of those clubs to get his at-bats.
The goal, Rodriguez said, is to “make sure that I’m a force in the middle of the lineup.”
Of course, over the past couple years as his performance has declined, Rodriguez often has talked with confidence about how he still expects big things from himself, yet rarely has delivered.
He hit .276 with 16 homers and 62 RBIs in an injury-abbreviated 99-game campaign last year and is batting .276 with 15 homers and 44 RBIs in 94 games this season.
But Rodriguez was terrific in the 11 games before breaking his hand, hitting .349 with two homers and four doubles.
One concern for Rodriguez is what happened after he returned from injury last year. He was out from July 8 through Aug. 20 following knee surgery. After returning Aug. 21, Rodriguez played 19 games the rest of the season and batted just .191 (13-for-68) with three homers, 10 RBIs and a .698 OPS.
“I think it’s a little bit different [from last season],” Rodriguez said. “I’ve been able to do a lot of running and pretty much stay in better shape, and I think hopefully that will be the big key change this year.”
mark.hale@nypost.com