At least, Alex Rodriguez is going out swinging.
Rodriguez, the New York Yankees' embattled third baseman, is facing a lengthy suspension or worse, according to USA Today. But the turmoil didn't seem to bother him Friday night as he homered in his first rehabilitation game with the Class Double-A Trenton Thunder.
The 38-year-old Rodriguez, who has not played this year because of offseason hip surgery, sent a 2-0 pitch from Philadelphia Phillies top prospect Jessie Biddle in the third inning of the Thunder's game against the Reading Phillies.
USA Today reported that after Rodriguez crossed home plate, A-Rod pointed to his girlfriend, Torrie Wilson. She was in the stands behind home plate wearing a Yankees cap.
The article also reported that Rodriguez's status within the Major League Baseball investigation into the Biogenesis scandal remains cloudy.
It is not evident whether Rodriguez and his legal counsel will stick to their original stance of not negotiating with MLB.
The report stated that an unnamed source indicated that Rodriguez is faced with two options for his involvement with the Biogenesis clinic that revealed steroid distribution to 20 MLB players:
Accept a ban through the 2014 season, which would be a span of some 215 games or face a lifetime ban.
The ban through next season would cost Rodriguez more than $34 million, USA Today reported, but he still could earn $61 million from 2015-17. He would also be eligible for $30 million in bonuses.
Rodriguez also walked in the first inning Friday night and showed no signs of the hip injury or a supposed quad strain that extended his minor league rehab assignment.
A-Rod earlier hit two homers in a 13-game, 20-day rehab assignment with both Trenton and Class Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Overall, he batted .200 (8-for-40).
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