Cashman: A-Rod won't return before July 22

NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter may have been hurried back to the Bronx, but general manager Brian Cashman said that there is no chance Alex Rodriguez will rejoin the Yankees before July 22.

Rodriguez has played in six combined rehab games between Class A Charleston and Class A Tampa as he attempts to return from offseason left hip surgery, and Cashman said that A-Rod will require the full 20 days of Minor League action permitted for position players.

"In his case, I think I stated in the beginning of his rehab process that he would get the full 20 days," Cashman said. "He's in the middle of his rehab process, and it's going to go all the way to the end. He's coming off a very complicated surgery.

"There's a reason he's in A ball, and there's a reason we were able to put Derek in Triple-A right from the start; because Derek was obviously much farther along than where Alex was. I think [Wednesday] was probably the best day of Alex's rehab, so far as reported to me by our people, but he'll take the full 20 days and that's where he's at."

Rodriguez was 1-for-3 with an RBI single as Tampa's designated hitter on Wednesday. He is 2-for-15 with a run, one RBI, a walk and a hit-by-pitch entering play on Thursday, having appeared at third base four times and DH twice.