A-Rod might be back before end of April
Either Alex Rodriguez is a fast healer or he really, really misses the spotlight, because just a week or so after it appeared he wouldn’t be back before mid-May, no there are reports the New York Yankees’ star could be back the last week of April from hip surgery.
Rodriguez took his initial swings Saturday in his rehab from hip surgery in Colorado.
“He hit, very light,”said Yankee hitting coach Kevin Long, who keeps in touch regularly with Rodriguez. “It’s not full batting practice. It’s initial swings. He’s not close to full baseball activity yet. He’s throwing, too, but at a very light level.”
When Rodriguez initially elected to have surgery, his return was projected in 6-9 weeks. Long said he “wouldn’t be surprised”if Rodriguez returned at the end of April or early May and added that A-Rod is currently at about 70 percent.
Rodriguez is scheduled to change his training base to Tampa on April 13, which would give Yankees brass a perfect opportunity to evaluate his progress, as it’s the spring home of the Bombers. The Yankees also will visit the Tampa Bay Rays for a three-game series beginning on the same day. Following that series, the Yanks open Yankee Stadium.
A-Rod was officially placed on the disabled list Saturday, retroactive to March 27. Rodriguez’s placement on the DL was merely a formality that had to be put in place as the regular-season began for the Yanks on Monday in Baltimore – bet on CC Sabathia’s debut with New York against Baltimore at WagerWeb.com. Rodriguez, who’s in the second year of a 10-year, $275 million contract will need more extensive surgery in the offseason.
Cody Ransom will play third in A-Rod’s absence, and the career minor-leaguer had a strong spring training, batting .280 with nine RBIs and 16 runs scored in 28 games. He led the Yankees with 75 at-bats and said: “I feel like I got my work in.”
If the Yanks are humming along without Rodriguez, they could opt to slow him down a bit and wait until mid-May, but if the team is struggling, watch for him to be back by the end of the month.
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