A-Rod expects to be back with Yankees on Monday
Alex Rodriguez, who underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left hip in January, expects to return to the Yankees on Monday in Texas, he said in a radio interview with WFAN's Mike Francesa on Wednesday.
"We'll see through the weekend. We started the 20-day rehab and once we felt he could complete the 20 days and be available to us in Texas," general managaer Brian Cashman said in a phone interview with ESPN.com. "So let's get through the weekend and see where he is at and see if he is Major League able."
The Yankees could activate the third baseman either Monday or Tuesday.
After 10 rehab games -- the past two with the Double-A Trenton Thunder in Reading, Pa. -- Rodriguez is pleased with his progress. He's not really worried about his 5-for-28 performance at the plate, either. Rodriguez will not play in Wednesday's series finale against Reading, in conjunction with a scheduled day off. He'll make his next rehab appearance on Thursday with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
"I feel good. What I'm happy with is I'm getting the barrel of the bat on the ball," said Rodriguez, who was 0-for-3 with a sacrifice fly and an RBI in a 6-3 loss to Reading on Tuesday night. "I'm swinging at strikes. I'm getting the ball into the air to the outfield. I'm eliminating the ground balls.
"I never really paid that much attention to rehab statistics until this year. To me, getting the barrel of the bat on the ball is much more important."
Rodriguez did hit the ball hard in three of his at-bats Tuesday, and he started a double play in the field. A-Rod looked confident and fluid both offensively and defensively, and he is making progress.
"I agree with that," said veteran Trenton manager Tony Franklin. "I think he looks good. He's certainly been productive in the two games he's played with us. It's been good having him around."
During his rehabilitation stint, Rodriguez has described his progress as "checking off boxes." He talked of a few that were taken care of after Monday's game and, without using that barometer, "checked off" a major one after Tuesday's contest. He was able to play seven innings at third base in four straight games, two with Class A Advanced Tampa and the two with Trenton.
"Playing those innings in four straight games is a step I needed to take in this," Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez was asked for reaction pertaining to MLB Players Association head Michael Weiner's comments explaining any suspensions leveled as a result of the Biogenesis investigation likely won't take effect until after the 2013 season. As usual, he deferred.
"Good question, but you will have to ask Michael, who knows a lot more about this than me," Rodriguez said. "I can't comment."