TAMPA, Fla. (AP) – Alex Rodriguez lined a single into left field in his return to the New York Yankees after a 17-month absence.
Greeted by a 10-second mix of boos and cheers as he stepped into the batter’s box Wednesday for his first game following a one-year drug suspension, Rodriguez swung past a pair of 91 mph pitches from Philadelphia’s Kevin Slowey. A-Rod hit the third pitch, an 89 mph offering, into short left field. That drew cheers from fans who attended the Yankees’ spring training home opener.
Rodriguez, who turns 40 in July, served a suspension for violations of baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract. The three-time AL MVP is owed $61 million by the Yankees for the final three seasons of his contract.
He has lost his third base job and is competing for at-bats at DH and as a backup at third and first base.
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