CHARLESTON, S.C. — Alex Rodriguez has been back for only two games after not having played since October and undergoing a second hip surgery, so it’s perfectly reasonable for him to expect to need more time to judge what kind of player he can be.
But what fun would that be?
So following another 0-for-2 performance for Class-A Charleston against Rome (Ga.) last night, an NL scout had this to say about the third baseman: “It’s way too early. I’d love to kill him, but it would be totally unfair. You need at least 15-20 at-bats before you start getting a rhythm.”
OK, so maybe Rodriguez has a point.
Last night, he grounded out softly to the right side in each of his two at-bats, but he did start a double play at third base that ended the top of the third.
“I don’t mind if I save all my hits for New York,” Rodriguez said with a laugh after being pulled after three innings from Charleston’s 8-5 loss.
He will work out in Charleston again today before heading back to Florida, where he will join Class-A Tampa tomorrow in Lakeland. Rodriguez expects to stay with Tampa at least through Tuesday — taking Sunday off — depending on the weather.
“That’s one part of simulated games you can’t [replicate],” Rodriguez said of the play at third. “You get your at-bats, but you can’t [replicate] the defense.”
You also don’t see 101 mph pitches in simulated games. Rodriguez said he was told last night’s starter for Rome, right-hander Mauricio Cabrera, was clocked at 101 during his first at-bat.
“The good news for me is I didn’t hit 101 before either hip surgery,” Rodriguez said. “The kid was throwing gas.”
He has 18 days to show he’s ready to help the Yankees before his rehab stint is up when the Yankees are in Texas.
With a body that’s breaking down and the cloud of MLB’s investigation into the Biogenesis scandal still ongoing, Rodriguez was asked why he was going through the ordeal of coming back.
“I have a responsibility,” Rodriguez said. “I have a job to do and I just don’t believe in giving up. That’s the way I’m wired. I love competition. I love the game. Obviously, there’s going to be a tremendous amount of naysayers out there. And I’m looking forward to [being able to] go out there, play well and contribute to my team win. It’s what I’ve done since I was three years old.”
It’s the kind of message he gave when he talked to the Charleston players prior to last night’s game for half an hour, before signing autographs and spending more time pressing the flesh at Joseph P. Riley Jr. Park than most politicians.
On the field, he grounded out to first in the first inning and to second in the third. After jogging down the line in the first inning, as well as in Tuesday’s game, Rodriguez exerted himself a bit more on the second groundout last night.
“We just want to make sure we get some productive work out of it and not just go through the motions,” said Rodriguez, who was joined again by Pat Roessler, the organization’s director of player development.
The third baseman added he texted with Joe Girardi yesterday, saying they communicate “almost daily.”
Rodriguez should soon move on to getting more at-bats and playing more innings in the field, but was encouraged by the fact he felt fine physically.
“I felt good that I was able to play back-to-back games,” Rodriguez said. “And I was happy with the way my body responded.”
Now, it’s onto Florida.
dan.martin@nypost.com