Yankees' A-Rod Inching Closer To Return; August 15 Target Date?
NEW YORK (WFAN/AP) -- Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez has stepped up his workouts while recovering from knee surgery.
There's no official timetable, though, on when he'll rejoin the team.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi said on Sunday that it's "very feasible" A-Rod could return on August 15 for next week's series against the Royals.
Rodriguez had Monday's session moved from the Yankees' minor league complex to their spring training site at George Steinbrenner Field because of rain. He took part in a situational hitting drill during a 57-pitch batting practice session.
Rodriguez said his progress so far is "thumbs up."
"He's starting to do things that would get you to the point where he's getting closer to a game," said Girardi on Sunday. "The last thing probably to come would be sprinting and running the bases."
Rodriguez is hitting .295 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs. He had surgery on his right knee in mid July.
Also, left-handed reliever Pedro Feliciano, who hasn't pitched this season because of a tear in left shoulder, has resumed working off a bullpen mound. He might be ready to throw batting practice next week.
Will A-Rod be a needed bat or an unneeded distraction with Star magazine's poker allegations hanging over the locker room? Sound off in the comments below...
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