TAMPA, Fla. – Alex Rodriguez resumed drills on the field Monday five weeks after hip surgery and hopes to return as “good as new.”
The New York Yankees third baseman hit 36 balls off a tee and took 42 swings during a soft-toss hitting session. He fielded 40 grounders and did light running at the team’s minor league complex.
“It feels a lot better than it did in spring training,” Rodriguez said after the 48-minute workout. “Now it’s just a matter of getting into playing shape.”
The Yankees don’t expect the three-time AL MVP to rejoin the team until about May 15.
Rodriguez has been optimistic about returning sooner and said the next three to four days will be important in deciding when he can play in a minor league rehab game.
“Hopefully I’ll be back as good as new,” Rodriguez said.
Litsch leaves with injury
MINNEAPOLIS – Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jesse Litsch left Monday’s game against Minnesota with right forearm tightness.
Manager Cito Gaston said an MRI would be performed Tuesday, adding Litsch was “a little sore” in his last start.
With no outs in the fourth inning, Litsch went ahead in the count 0-2 on Delmon Young before he slowly walked around behind the mound.
He was visited by the trainer and removed from the game, holding his right arm against his body. Brian Tallet came in to pitch for Toronto.
“I didn’t see anything wrong,” catcher Rod Barajas said. “It seemed his velocity was a little down, but other than that I had no clue.”
Litsch (0-1) was struggling for the second straight start, allowing seven hits and four earned runs in three innings, including a home run to Jason Kubel. Toronto went on to win 8-6.
Glavine ailing again
ATLANTA – Braves left-hander Tom Glavine will have his sore shoulder examined after plans for his first start of the season were called off.
The Braves say they have scratched Glavine from his scheduled start on Saturday at Pittsburgh.
The 43-year-old Glavine ended his minor league start with Double-A Mississippi after only two innings on Sunday.
Glavine will be evaluated by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Wednesday. Andrews repaired a torn flexor tendon in Glavine’s left elbow on Aug. 21, ending the left-hander’s 2008 season.
Glavine also had what was regarded as a less serious surgery to clean out his shoulder.