ST. PETERSBURG The smile on Alex Rodriguez’s face as he crossed home plate told the story- the Yankees third baseman felt just fine, thank you.
A long home run will do that, even when it’s only in an extended spring training game against minor leaguers.
“It’s been a while,” Rodriguez said of the homer.
Rodriguez’s recovery from a strained right quad took another step forward today as he went 1-for-4 with the home run, a walk and two strikeouts in his first game action since April 28.
The plan is for Rodriguez to return to the Yankees on Tuesday against the Orioles. Today, he reported no setbacks and said he felt no pain in the quadriceps. Besides his at-bats, he also had four putouts in five chances during four innings at third base.
“It felt good,” A-Rod said. “I think for today mission was accomplished. I was able to catch a couple of ground balls left and right and swing the bat aggressively and just go out there and feel my way again.”
All action stopped at the Naimoli Baseball Complex when Rodriguez walked onto Field 1 shortly before 10 a.m. These games are usually reserved for young minor leaguers not yet ready to play even Single-A ball. Some of the young Rays looked on in awe as A-Rod walked across the field.
Instead of the usual handful of fans, about 150 showed up to watch him from metal bleachers on a field reminiscent of a nice high school’s.
“It was funny being out there for a 10 a.m. game,” he said. “It’s been a while since I’ve done that, probably Legion ball, sophomore year.”
He faced a tough pitcher in David Price, the No. 1 selection of the 2007 draft. The 6-foot-6 left-hander struck Rodriguez out in his first at-bat, following four fastballs with a nasty slider that got A-Rod swinging.
Price, recovering from an elbow injury, learned a lesson in the second at-bat when Rodriguez drilled his 95-mph high fastball over the 365-foot sign in right field. A-Rod flew out in his next at bat, walked and struck out looking on another slider.
Rodriguez will participate in a simulated game this morning at the Yankees minor league complex in Tampa, then play another extended spring game tomorrow against the Phillies.