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TAMPA, Fla. -- Alex Rodriguez is set to rejoin the slumping New York Yankees on Tuesday night after finishing his rehabilitation of a strained right quadriceps.
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"I'm excited to get back into Yankee Stadium and playing baseball. It's where I belong," Rodriguez said after going 2-for-6 in an extended spring training game Monday.
Rodriguez, sidelined since April 28, doubled and singled in six at-bats against Philadelphia minor league right-hander Reginal Simon. He also reached on error, struck out and flied out twice, making him 3-for-10 with a homer in two extended spring training games.
New York, last in the AL East at 20-24, has struggled without the three-time AL MVP. The Yankees are hopeful Rodriguez will provide a spark.
"We'll see," Rodriguez said. "No predictions."
Rodriguez fielded three grounders -- including two he had to charge in on -- during five innings at third base.
"I wanted to go left, I wanted to go right defensively. I wanted to come forward on some slow rollers, and I got every one of them," Rodriguez said. "I'm happy about that. I got a chance to slide a few times, and swing the bat well."
Notes
- One of the Yankees' top starting pitching prospects, RHP Alan Horne, threw 26 pitches over two scoreless innings. On the disabled list with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with a biceps injury, Horne is scheduled to throw 50 pitches in an extended spring game Thursday.
- 17-year old Dominican OF Kelvin DeLeon is playing with the extended spring team and homered Monday.
- The Yankees' May 11 rainout at Detroit has been rescheduled for Sept. 1 at 1:05 p.m.
- The Yankees will switch equipment sponsorship from Adidas to Nike next year under a five-year deal that has been agreed to in principle, Sports Business Journal reported. Nike spokesman Dean Stoyer said the company wouldn't confirm or discuss the report until after the season and Yankees spokesman Howard Rubenstein said he wasn't able to reach any team officials for comment. Adidas has sponsored the Yankees since 1997. All big league teams' on-field apparel, however, is covered by Major League Baseball's agreements.
