TAMPA — Alex Rodriguez has played in 2,568 regular-season major league games, plus another 75 in the postseason. Yet that resume won't make Wednesday's 2015 Grapefruit League debut much easier.
"I'll be a little nervous, for sure," he said Tuesday at Steinbrenner Field. "I haven't been in front of our fans for a long time. I'm excited about that. I have some challenges ahead."
Rodriguez, 39, will start at designated hitter against the Phillies in the Yankees' home opener. They will start their exhibition schedule Tuesday afternoon at the Phillies in nearby Clearwater; of the Yankees' likely starting lineup, only outfielders Jacoby Ellsbury and Brett Gardner made the trip.
A-Rod last saw game action on September 25, 2013, when he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts against the Rays at Yankee Stadium. In January 2014, he received a season-long suspension for his involvement with — and attempts to obstruct Major League Baseball's investigation of — Biogenesis.
With three years and $61 million remaining on his contract, he's back in camp with the Yankees and trying to make the team despite his long layoff, his two surgically repaired hips and his advanced age. He has been working out at first base in addition to third base and said he would be ready to take the field in games whenever manager Joe Girardi decided it was time for that step.
Because of his long layoff, A-Rod wants a lot of at-bats this spring. He will get them.
"At-bats are key for me. I haven't seen live pitching in a long time," he said. "The more at-bats, the better. And I know Joe talked a little bit about maybe going to the minor leagues and utilizing that, too."
Minor league exhibition games are played across the street at the Yankees' development complex.
He said he was "excited" in addition to being nervous: "Ready to go. Not sure how ready, but I'll give it a shot."
During the Yankees' workouts here, A-Rod has been by far the most popular player among fans. None of his teammates has generated any noticeable buzz while Rodriguez has received consistent, steady applause.
"It's certainly felt good," he said. "It was surprising a little bit, for sure. I didn't know what to expect."
No one knows what to expect the rest of the way with A-Rod, but virtually everyone is curious to see it.
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