Alex Rodriguez facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Alex Rodriguez
Rodriguez in 2015
Shortstop / Third baseman
Born: (1975-07-27) July 27, 1975 (age 49) New York City, New York, U.S.
Batted: Right Threw: Right
debut
July 8, 1994, for the Seattle Mariners
Last appearance
August 12, 2016, for the New York Yankees
MLB statistics
Batting average	.295
Hits	3,115
Home runs	696
Runs batted in	2,086
Teams
Seattle Mariners (1994–2000) Texas Rangers (2001–2003) New York Yankees (2004–2013, 2015–2016)
Career highlights and awards
14× All-Star (1996–1998, 2000–2008, 2010, 2011) World Series champion (2009) 3× AL MVP (2003, 2005, 2007) 2× Gold Glove Award (2002, 2003) 10× Silver Slugger Award (1996, 1998–2003, 2005, 2007, 2008) 4× AL Hank Aaron Award (2001–2003, 2007) MLB batting champion (1996) 5× AL home run leader (2001–2003, 2005, 2007) 2× MLB RBI leader (2002, 2007)
Medals Men's baseball Representing  United States World Junior Baseball Championship Silver 1992 Monterrey Team

Alexander Emmanuel Rodriguez (born July 27, 1975), known as "A-Rod", is a former American professional baseball player. He played as a shortstop, third baseman, and designated hitter. A-Rod played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners (1994–2000), Texas Rangers (2001–2003), and New York Yankees (2004–2013, 2015–2016). After his playing career, he became a successful businessman.

Many people consider Rodriguez one of the greatest baseball players ever. He has a career batting average of .295. He hit 696 home runs, had 2,086 runs batted in (RBI), scored over 2,000 runs, got over 3,000 hits, and stole over 300 stolen bases. He is the only player in MLB history to achieve all these impressive stats.

A-Rod was a 14-time All-Star. He won three American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) Awards. He also earned 10 Silver Slugger Awards and two Gold Glove Awards. Rodriguez holds the record for the most career grand slams. He helped the Yankees win the 2009 World Series, which was his only championship title.

Rodriguez was chosen first overall in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft by the Mariners. He made his major league debut at just 18 years old. In 1996, he became the Mariners' starting shortstop and won the major league batting title. He was known for his power, speed, and great defense. After the 2000 season, he signed a huge contract with the Texas Rangers. In 2004, he was traded to the Yankees and changed his position to third base.

Toward the end of his career, injuries to his hip and knee made him play mostly as a designated hitter. He played his last professional game on August 12, 2016. After retiring, Rodriguez became a media personality. He worked as a broadcaster for Fox Sports 1 and ESPN, and appeared on shows like Shark Tank.

Early Life and High School Baseball

Alex Rodriguez was born in 1975 in New York City. His parents were immigrants from the Dominican Republic. When he was four, his family moved to the Dominican Republic. Later, they moved to Miami, Florida, when he was in fourth grade. His father played baseball in the Dominican Republic and taught Alex the sport. Growing up, Alex loved baseball and looked up to players like Cal Ripken Jr..

Alex became a star player at Westminster Christian School (Florida) in Miami. He played shortstop on the baseball team and quarterback on the football team. In 100 games, he batted .419 and stole 90 bases. His team won the high school national championship in his junior year. In his senior year, he was named a first-team prep All-American. He batted .505 with nine home runs and 36 RBIs. He was also named the USA Baseball Junior Player of the Year.

Rodriguez planned to play baseball for the University of Miami. However, he decided to sign with the Seattle Mariners instead. He was chosen first overall in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft when he was just 17.

Professional Baseball Career

Starting in the Minor Leagues

The Seattle Mariners picked Alex Rodriguez as the very first player in the 1993 Major League Baseball draft. He signed a contract worth $1.3 million, plus a $1 million bonus.

In 1994, Rodriguez started playing in the minor leagues. He played for the Appleton Foxes and then the Jacksonville Suns. He quickly moved up to the major leagues.

Seattle Mariners: Becoming a Star

1994–1995: Youngest Player in MLB

On July 8, 1994, Rodriguez made his debut in the major leagues as a starting shortstop. He was only 18 years old, making him one of the youngest players in MLB history. He got his first major league hit the next day. In 1994, he played 17 games for the Mariners.

Rodriguez batting for the Calgary Cannons in 1994

In 1995, Rodriguez split his time between the Mariners and their minor league team. He hit his first major league home run on June 12. He joined the major league team for good in August. He was still the youngest player in MLB.

1996–1997: Batting Champion

In 1996, Rodriguez became the Mariners' main shortstop. He led the American League (AL) with an amazing .358 batting average. This was one of the highest averages ever for a right-handed batter in the AL. He also hit 36 home runs and had 123 RBIs. At 20 years old, he was the youngest shortstop to ever play in the All-Star Game. He led the AL in runs (141) and doubles (54). Many experts called his season the best ever for a shortstop.

Sporting News and the Associated Press named Rodriguez their Major League Player of the Year. He finished second in the voting for the AL MVP Award.

In 1997, Rodriguez continued to play well, batting .300 with 23 home runs. On June 5, he hit for the cycle, which means he hit a single, double, triple, and home run in the same game. Fans voted him to start the All-Star Game at shortstop.

1998–2000: Power and Speed

In 1998, Rodriguez had a fantastic season. He hit 42 home runs and stole 46 bases, becoming only the third player ever to join the 40–40 club. This means he had at least 40 home runs and 40 stolen bases in one season. He won his second Silver Slugger Award.

In 1999, A-Rod hit 42 home runs and had 111 RBIs, even though he missed some games due to injury. He became the youngest player to reach 100 home runs and 100 stolen bases.

In 2000, Rodriguez continued to be a key player for the Mariners. He hit 41 home runs and had 132 RBIs with a .316 batting average. He also had 100 walks, making him the only shortstop to have 100 runs, RBIs, and walks in the same season. He played well in the playoffs, but the Mariners lost to the New York Yankees. Baseball America named him Major League Player of the Year.

Texas Rangers: Big Contract, Big Numbers

After the 2000 season, Rodriguez became a free agent. He signed a record-breaking 10-year contract worth $252 million with the Texas Rangers. At the time, it was the biggest contract in sports history.

2001–2002: Home Run Leader

In his first year with the Rangers, Rodriguez had one of the best offensive seasons ever for a shortstop. He led the American League with 52 home runs, 133 runs scored, and 393 total bases. He was the first player since 1932 to hit 50 home runs and get 200 hits in a season. His 52 home runs were the most ever by a shortstop. He also won his first Rawlings Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense.

In 2002, Rodriguez led all of MLB with 57 home runs, 142 RBIs, and 389 total bases. He won the Babe Ruth Home Run Award for leading the league in homers. He also won his second Gold Glove Award. Even with his amazing performance, the Rangers finished last in their division both years.

2003: First MVP Award

The 2003 season was A-Rod's last with the Rangers. He led the American League in home runs, runs scored, and slugging percentage. He also won his second straight Gold Glove Award. He became the youngest player to hit 300 home runs.

After five times finishing in the top 10, Rodriguez finally won his first AL MVP Award. He was only the second player ever to win the award while playing for a last-place team. After the season, the Rangers decided to trade Rodriguez.

New York Yankees: World Series Champion

Rodriguez took over at third base after he was traded to the Yankees in 2004.

In February 2004, the Rangers traded Rodriguez to the New York Yankees. The Yankees needed a third baseman, so Rodriguez agreed to switch positions from shortstop to third base. This allowed their popular shortstop, Derek Jeter, to stay at his position. Rodriguez also changed his jersey number to 13, in honor of football player Dan Marino.

2004: First Year as a Yankee

In his first season with the Yankees, Rodriguez hit .286 with 36 home runs and 106 RBIs. He became one of only three players in history to have at least 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs for seven years in a row. He was chosen for the 2004 American League All-Star Team as a third baseman.

In the playoffs, Rodriguez played well against the Minnesota Twins. However, in the series against the Boston Red Sox, a controversial play happened. In Game 6, Rodriguez hit a ball and was called out for interfering with the pitcher. The Yankees ended up losing the series to the Red Sox.

2005–2006: Second MVP Award

In 2005, Rodriguez had a great season, batting .321. He led the American League with 124 runs and 48 home runs, and had 130 RBIs. He became the first Yankee to win the AL home run title since 1980. On June 8, at 29 years old, he became the youngest player in MLB history to reach 400 home runs.

On April 26, Rodriguez hit three home runs in one game and drove in 10 runs. This was the most RBIs by a Yankee since 1936. Rodriguez won his second AL MVP Award in three seasons.

Rodriguez reacting to a called strike in a game against Tampa Bay

In 2006, Rodriguez was again an All-Star. On July 21, he got his 2,000th hit, which was also his 450th home run. He became the youngest player to reach 450 home runs. He finished the season with 35 home runs and 121 RBIs.

2007: Third MVP and 500th Home Run

Rodriguez had an incredible year in 2007. He started the season by hitting six home runs in the first seven games. On April 23, he tied the MLB record for most home runs in April with 14.

On August 4, Rodriguez hit his 500th career home run. He became the youngest player ever to reach 500 home runs at 32 years and 8 days old. On September 25, he hit a grand slam, becoming the fifth player to have a 50-home run, 150-RBI season.

Rodriguez batting in 2007

In 2007, Rodriguez led the AL in home runs (54), RBIs (156), and slugging percentage (.645). He won his third Babe Ruth Home Run Award. After the season, Rodriguez was named the AL MVP for the third time in his career. He also won the Silver Slugger Award and the Players Choice Award for Player of the Year.

2008: Consistent Performance

Rodriguez at bat in 2008

On September 3, 2008, Rodriguez hit his 549th home run. For the first time in MLB history, instant replay was used to confirm the home run. Rodriguez played 138 games in 2008, batting .302 with 35 home runs and 103 RBIs.

2009: World Series Champion

Before the 2009 season, Rodriguez had hip surgery and missed the first month of the season. When he returned on May 8, he hit a three-run home run in his first at-bat. He also hit several game-winning home runs that season.

On October 4, 2009, Rodriguez hit two home runs and drove in seven runs in one inning. This set an American League record for most RBIs in a single inning. He also reached 30 home runs and 100 RBIs for the 12th year in a row, an MLB record.

In the 2009 postseason, Rodriguez played exceptionally well. He hit several game-tying home runs. The Yankees faced the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series. Rodriguez helped the Yankees win their 27th World Series Championship, which was the first of his career. He was named the Babe Ruth Award winner as the 2009 postseason MVP.

2010–2012: Reaching Milestones

On August 4, 2010, Rodriguez became the seventh player in MLB history to hit 600 home runs. He was the youngest player to reach this milestone at 35 years old. On August 14, he hit three home runs in one game. He also recorded his 100th RBI for the 14th time in his career, an MLB record.

In 2011, Rodriguez had knee surgery and was placed on the disabled list. He returned in August and finished the season with 16 home runs and 62 RBIs. This ended his record streak of 13 straight seasons with 30 home runs and 100 RBIs.

On June 12, 2012, Rodriguez hit his 23rd career grand slam, tying Lou Gehrig for the most in MLB history. Later that year, he suffered a hand injury and was placed on the disabled list. During the 2012 postseason, Rodriguez struggled and the Yankees were eliminated.

2013: Challenges and Suspension

In January 2013, Rodriguez had another hip surgery. While recovering, he faced issues related to league rules. On August 5, MLB announced that he would be suspended through the 2014 season for violating league rules. After an appeal, the suspension was reduced to 162 games, meaning he missed the entire 2014 season.

Despite the challenges, Rodriguez returned to play in 2013. On August 11, he hit his first home run of the season. On September 20, he hit his 24th career grand slam, breaking the all-time record previously held by Lou Gehrig. For the 2013 season, Rodriguez played in 44 games, batting .244 with seven home runs.

2015: Return and 3,000th Hit

Rodriguez with the Yankees in 2016

After his suspension, Rodriguez returned to the Yankees for the 2015 season. He played as the designated hitter. On May 1, he hit his 660th career home run, tying Willie Mays for fourth place on the all-time home run list. On May 7, he hit his 661st home run, passing Mays.

On June 13, Rodriguez hit his 2,000th and 2,001st career RBIs. A week later, he got his 3,000th career hit with a home run. He joined Wade Boggs and Derek Jeter as the only players to hit a home run for their 3,000th hit. On July 25, just before his 40th birthday, he hit three home runs in one game. He finished the season with 33 home runs and 86 RBIs. He tied Hank Aaron for the most 30-home-run seasons in history with 15.

2016: Retirement

In 2016, Rodriguez struggled with his performance. On August 7, he announced that he would play his final game for the Yankees on August 12. The Yankees honored him in his last game, thanking him for his contributions. He played as the designated hitter and had an RBI double. In the ninth inning, he played third base for one batter, his only defensive appearance that year. He left the field to a big cheer from the fans. The next day, the Yankees released him from his contract.

Rodriquez working as a postgame television commentator during the 2016 World Series

Rodriguez officially retired from playing baseball. He finished the 2016 season with a .200 batting average, nine home runs, and 31 RBIs in 65 games. He later became a special advisor to the Yankees owner.

Life After Baseball

Media Career

After retiring as a player, Alex Rodriguez became a popular media personality.

• He joined Shark Tank as a guest judge in 2017.
• He signed a deal with ABC News to be a contributor to their news programs.
• Rodriguez works as an MLB studio analyst for FOX Sports. His show won Emmy Awards for its coverage of the postseason.
• In 2018, he joined ESPN as an analyst for Sunday Night Baseball.
• He became the host of the show Back in the Game on CNBC. The show helps former athletes and entertainers get back on track in their lives.

A-Rod Corp: Business Ventures

Rodriguez founded A-Rod Corp, a holding company, in 1996. Through this company, he has invested in many different businesses. These include technology, real estate, wellness, and entertainment.

• In 2008, he started Newport Property Construction, a real estate company.
• In 2012, he founded Monument Capital Management, which has bought over $1 billion in real estate.
• A-Rod Corp has invested in companies like coconut water brand Vita Coco, Wheels Up, and Snapchat.
• In 2016, he invested in NRG Esports, an e-sports organization.
• In 2017, A-Rod Corp gained rights to develop UFC-branded fitness centers.
• In 2020, Rodriguez became the chairman of Presidente, a Dominican beer company.
• In July 2020, Rodriguez and his former partner Jennifer Lopez tried to buy the New York Mets baseball team, but their bid was not successful.

The Corp Podcast

In 2018, Rodriguez started The Corp Podcast with Dan Katz from Barstool Sports. On the podcast, they interview famous business leaders, athletes, and entrepreneurs.

Personal Life

Rodriguez takes batting practice in 2009

Alex Rodriguez grew up with two half-siblings. His father left the family when Alex was nine. Alex later reconnected with his father and other family members.

In 2002, he married Cynthia Scurtis. They had two daughters, Natasha Alexander (born 2004) and Ella Alexander (born 2008). They later divorced in 2008.

Rodriguez has dated several famous people, including actress Cameron Diaz and singer Jennifer Lopez. He and Jennifer Lopez were engaged in 2019, but they announced the end of their engagement in 2021.

In his free time, Rodriguez enjoys playing golf and collecting art.

Charity Work

Alex Rodriguez is also known for his charity work.

• In 2003, he donated $3.9 million to the University of Miami to improve its baseball stadium. The stadium was renamed "Alex Rodriguez Park at Mark Light Field".
• He is a board member for the Miami-Dade Boys & Girls Clubs.
• In 2010, Rodriguez and A-Rod Corp donated $1 million to the Boys & Girls Clubs of Miami-Dade. This helped build a new educational center for students.
• He also created a scholarship program for Boys and Girls Club members to attend the University of Miami, helping over 25 students.
• In 2017, Rodriguez and A-Rod Corp donated $500,000 to the University of Miami School of Business Administration.
• In 2019 and 2020, Rodriguez and Jennifer Lopez donated thousands of meals to students and hospitality workers in need.

Awards and Honors

Rodriguez became eligible for the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2022.

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

Achievements

Notes: Per Baseball-Reference.com.

Records

^†: Rodriguez hit 2 home runs as a DH in the 2007 season.

^†: Tied with Bernie Williams.

See Also

In Spanish: Álex Rodríguez para niños

• 30–30 club
• 50 home run club
• List of highest paid Major League Baseball players
• Major League Baseball titles leaders