Alex Rodriguez

Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez, professionally known by the name Alex Rodriguez is an American former professional baseball shortstop and third baseman. He is also known by the nickname “A-Rod”. He played 22 seasons in the Major League Baseball (MLB) and has played for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees. He is considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Started his MLB career from The Mariners when he was selected by the Mariners with the first overall pick in the 1993 MLB draft. He is a 14-time All-Star and won three American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards, ten Silver Slugger Awards, and two Gold Glove Awards.

After retirement, he became a media personality. He has appeared in several television shows since then.

He has over 2.5 million followers on his Instagram.

Former Baseball Player, Alex Rodriguez Engaged To JLo

Source; @arod

Alex Rodriguez, popularly known by the name A-Rod is now engaged to singer and actress, Jennifer Lopez. The 43-years old Rodriguez announced his engagement with the 49-years old JLo on his Instagram.

He posted the picture of holding JLo’s hand with a massive engagement ring and wrote, “She said Yes”.

The former New York Yankees star proposed to her during their trip to the Bahamas. The two dated for two years before taking their relationship into the next level.

Famous For

• Considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time.
• The only baseball player in MLB history to have .295 batting average, over 600 home runs, over 2,000 runs batted in (RBI), over 2,000 runs scored, over 3,000 hits, and over 300 stolen bases.

Source: @arod

Early Life

Alex Rodriguez was born on 27 July 1975. His birth name is Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez. He was born to Dominican immigrants, Victor Rodriguez, and Lourdes Rodriguez. His birthplace is in New York City, New York in the United States. He holds American nationality. His zodiac sign is Leo. He grew up with his two half-siblings, Joe and Suzy from his mother’s first marriage. He also has a half-brother, Victor M. Rodrigue from his father’s next marriage. His family moved to the Dominican Republic when he was four years old. Then the family moved to Miami, Florida, where he grew up.

He attended Christopher Columbus High School and then Westminster Christian School. At Westminster Christian School, he was a star shortstop on the baseball team. He also played as a quarterback on the school’s football team. He helped his college to win the high school national championship in his junior year. He became the first team prep All-American as a senior, hitting .505 with nine home runs, 36 runs batted in and 35 stolen bases in 35 attempts in 33 games.

He was selected as the USA Baseball Junior Player of the Year and as Gatorade’s national baseball student-athlete of the Year. He also became the first high school player to ever try out for the United States national baseball team.

He never played college baseball as he signed to play with the Seattle Mariners after being selected in the first round of the 1993 amateur draft. He was 17 when he was drafted.

Career

He amassed .295 batting average, 696 home runs, over 2,000 runs batted in, over 2,000 runs scored, over 3,000 hits, and over 300 stolen bases.

He is a 14-time All-Star and has won three American League Most Valuable Player Awards, ten Silver Slugger Awards, and two Gold Glove Awards

He is the career record holder for 25 grand slams.

He became the youngest player to hit 500 home runs in 2007.

His only world title is the 2009 World Series championship he won with the Yankees against the Philadelphia Phillies.

He played his final game in professional baseball on 12 August 2016.

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners selected him with the first overall selection of the 1993 MLB draft.

The Mariners signed him to a 3-year contract for $1.3 million, and a $1 million signing bonus.

He made his professional baseball debut with the Appleton Foxes of the Class A Midwest League in the minor league.

He was then promoted to the Jacksonville Suns of the Class AA Southern League.

Following his performances for the Jacksonville Suns, he was promoted to the major leagues.

He made his MLB debut as a starting shortstop on July 8, 1994. He was 18 years old when he debuted in MLB.

He became the third 18-years old major league shortstop since 1990. He was also the first 18-year-old major league in 10 years and the youngest position player in Seattle history.

He was assigned to Calgary Cannons and Tacoma Rainers of the PCL during the 1994 and 1995 seasons.

He became the 3rd youngest AL batting leader ever and 3rd youngest player in history with 35+ homers in 1996. He was 21 years old then.

He was also the first major league shortstop to win a batting title since 1960 and the first in the AL since 1944.

He became the youngest shortstop in All-Star Game history at 20 years and 11 months.

He was selected as their Major League Player of the Year by the Sporting News and Associated Press in 1996.

In 1997, he became the second Mariner and fifth youngest player in history to hit for the cycle.

In 1998, he became the third member of the 40-40 club and one of just 3 shortstops in history to hit 40 home runs in a season.

He was selected as Players Choice AL Player of the Year in 1998.

He was the youngest-ever player then to record 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases, at 23 years and 309 days old.

He became the only shortstop to have 100 runs RBI, and walks in the same season in the 2000 season.

Texas Rangers

He became a free agent after 2000 season with the Mariners.

Texas had fallen to the last place in their division in 2000.

He then signed with the Texas Rangers with the most lucrative contract in sports history. He signed a 10-year deal worth $252 million making the deal $63 million more than the second-richest baseball deal.

In 2001, he became the first player since 1932 with 50 homers and 200 hits in a season. He also became the sixth youngest to ever reach 50 homes.

He won his first Gold Glove Award while at The Texas Rangers in 2002.

His 109 home runs in 2001-2002 are the most ever by an American League right-handed batter in consecutive seasons.

However, the Rangers finished last in the AL Western division in his first two years.

He won his second Gold Glove  Award in 2003 leading the American League in home runs, runs scored, and slugging percentage.

New York Yankees

The Rangers traded him to the New York Yankees for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later in February 2005. The Rangers agreed to pay $67 million of the $179 million left on his contract.

He agreed to switch positions from shortstop to third base as Derek Jeter was already assigned to the shortstop position.

During his first season with the Yankees, he became the youngest player ever to reach the 350 home runs mark and the third youngest to reach the 1,000 RBI plateau.

In 2005, he became the first Yankee to win the American League home run title since Reggie Jackson in 1980.

He made the new record for most home runs in a single-season by a right-handed batter with 47 home runs.

In June 2005, he became the youngest player in MLB history to reach the 400 HR mark.

He became the fifth player to win the “League Award” with two different teams.

He became the youngest player to reach 450 home runs in 2006.

He hit his 500th career home run against Kansas City Royals in August 2007.

Sports Illustrated reported that Rodriguez tested positive for testosterone and the anabolic steroid Primobolan in 2003.

He later admitted that he used steroid from 2001 to 2003.

He was scheduled to represent the Dominican Republic in the 2009 World Baseball Classic. But, he was forced to withdraw when an MRI revealed a cyst in his right hip. It was also discovered that he was also suffering from a torn labrum in the same hip. The two surgeries kept him out of action for months.

He also suffered injuries in the 2012 and 2013 season that kept him out for months.

He returned with the Yankees in August 2013 but was suspended by MLB through the 2014 season pending an appeal for his role in Biogenesis scandal.

His suspension was upheld for the entire 2014 regular season and postseason when he was found to have violated the league’s Performance Enhancing Drugs policy.

At the end of the 2014 season, Brian Cashman announced that Rodriguez would no longer serve as an everyday third man baseman after the team signed Chase Headey and would instead become a designated hitter.

He issued a hand-written letter of apology to “Major League Baseball, the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, the Players Association and you, the fans” on 17 February 2015.

He played his first game after suspension as a designated hitter against the Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium.

He became the fifth-oldest player to hit three home runs in one game when he hit three home runs against the Twins in Minnesota in July 2015.

He announced on 7 August 2016 that he would play in his final game for the Yankees on 12 August against the Rays at Yankee Stadium.

The club commemorated his final game as a Yankee.

The Yankees granted him his unconditional release on 13th August.

In January 2017, his spokesman said that he would not play for any other teams and would remain a special advisor to Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner.

Awards, Achievements, Honors

Championships earned or shared

American League batting champion 1996

American League champion 2009

World Series champion 2009

Major league, minor league and high school awards and exhibition team selections

1st Team High School All-American at infield (1993)

14× American League All-Star

7× as a shortstop (1996–98, 2000–03)

7× as a third baseman (2004–08, 2010–11)

3× American League Most Valuable Player Award (2003, 2005, 2007)

Babe Ruth Award (2009)

3× Babe Ruth Home Run Award (2002, 2003, 2007)

Baseball America 1st-Team Minor League All-Star at shortstop (1995)

4× Baseball America 1st-Team Major League All-Star

3× at shortstop (1998, 2000–03)

at third base (2005)

2× Baseball America Major League Player of the Year (2000, 2002)

Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year (1993)

GIBBY/This Year in Baseball Awards for Hitter of the Year (2007)

GIBBY/This Year in Baseball Awards for Individual Performance of the Year (2005)

6× GIBBY/This Year in Baseball Awards for Outstanding Player of the Year (1996, 1998, 2001−03, 2007)

4× Hank Aaron Award (2001–03, 2007)

10× Major League Baseball Player of the Month Award

13× Major League Baseball Player of the Week Award

2× Minor League Baseball All-Star (1994 Midwest League, 1995 Triple-A)

Pepsi Clutch Performer of the Year (2007)

2× Rawlings Gold Glove Award at shortstop (2002, 2003)

Seattle Mariners Minor League Player of the Year (1994)

2× Seattle Mariners Player of the Year (1998, 2000)

10× Silver Slugger Award

7× at shortstop (1996, 1998–2003)

3× at third base (2005, 2007, 2008)

3× The Sporting News Player of the Year (1996, 2002, 2007)

3× Texas Rangers Player of the Year (2001–03)

World Baseball Classic participant for United States (2006)

Achievements

American League statistical leader

Batting champion 1996

Doubles leader 1996

Extra base hits leader 2001

Hits leader 1998

Home run leader 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2007

On-base plus slugging leader 2005, 2007

Runs batted in leader 2002, 2007

Runs scored leader 1996, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007

Slugging percentage leader 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008

Total bases leader 1996, 2001, 2002, 2007

Records

Major League

Most home runs by a player of Hispanic descent: 696, since 1994.

Most home runs by a New York-born player: 696, since 1994.

Most career grand slams: 25, since 1994

Most runs in a season (SS): 141, 1996.

Most extra-base hits in a season (SS): 91, 1996.

Highest slugging percentage in a season (SS): .631, 1996.

Most total bases in a season (SS): 393, 2001.

Most home runs in a season (SS): 57, 2002.

Most home runs in the month of April (tied): 14, 2007

Fewest games to hit 12 home runs to start a season (tied): 15, 2007.

Fewest games to hit 13 and 14 home runs to start a season: 18, 2007.

Youngest ever to hit 500 home runs: 32 years and 8 days, 2007.

Most home runs by a third baseman (season): 52, 2007.

Most stolen bases in a 50-home run season: 24(Tied), 2007.

American League

Most home runs in consecutive seasons (RH): 109, 2001–2002.

Most home runs in the month of April: 14, 2007.

Fewest games to hit 10 home runs to start a season: 14, 2007.

Fewest games to hit 12 home runs to start a season: 15, 2007.

New York Yankees

Most home runs in a season at home (RH): 26, 2005, 2007

Most home runs in a season (RH): 54, 2007.

Most RBIs in a postseason: 18, 2009.

Most home runs in a postseason: 6(tied), 2009.

Media Personality

After retirement, he became a media personality.

He served as a broadcaster for Fox Sports 1.

He also served as a member of the ABC News network.

He joined Sunday Night Baseball in 2018.

He became the host of the show Back in The Game on CNBC from March 2018.

Who is Alex Rodriguez Engaged To?

Alex Rodriguez was married to a psychology graduate Cynthia Scurtis. They got married in 2002. The couple had two children, Natasha Alexander, and Ella Alexander. His wife, Cynthia filed for divorce in July 2008.

He was also romantically linked with an American singer Madonna. But, Madonna denied the rumors.

He started dating singer Jennifer Lopez in February 2017. They first met at a MET Gala in 2017. They announced their engagement in March 2019.

Source: @arod

What Are Alex Rodriguez’s Body Measurements?

Alex Rodriguez stands at a height of 1.87 m i.e. 6 feet 1 and a half inches tall. He has a body weight of 229 lbs i.e. 104 kg. He has an average body build. He has hazel eyes and his hair color is dark brown.

What is Alex Rodriguez’s Net Worth?

He signed a 10-year contract worth $252 million which was the richest in baseball history. Rodriguez and the New York Yankees extended his contract in November 2007 to a 10-year deal worth $275 million. His contract also included various multimillion-dollar incentives. He used to own a Mercedes-Benz dealership in League City, Texas. He is an investor for eSports team NRG Esports. He has also appeared in commercials for Pepsi Cola, Guitar Hero World Tour, Nike, Radio Shack, among others. As of 2019, his net worth is estimated at $350 million.