Alex Rodriguez “checked a lot of boxes” on Monday during his first rehab appearance with the Double-A Trenton Thunder.
He ran the bases, was tested in the field several times and engaged in a lively 12-pitch at-bat with Reading left-hander Austin Wright.
And he also did something he hadn’t done in a months - he homered.
“It’s been a long time,” said Rodriguez, who couldn’t remember the last time he hit a home run.
He struggled in the American League playoffs last fall with the New York Yankees, and hadn’t done much at the plate during his first eight rehab appearances over the last two weeks following offseason hip surgery.
On Monday he went 2 for 4 and played seven innings in the first of what could be three games with the Yankees’ Double-A Eastern League affiliate. The Thunder beat the Reading Fightin Phils 6-5.