Alex Rodriguez: A player transcending expectations
The legend, that is Alex Rodriguez, completed his 600th home run in fashion by smashing the ball down deep centre for a home run off Toronto Blue Jays’ pitcher Shaun Marcum. A feature that has been in the expectation list since the last 12 matches, the phenomenal hitter finally placed his name amongst the all time greats who have achieved the mark in their industrious career.
Being behind Barry Bonds - 762, Hank Aaron - 755, Babe Ruth - 714, Willie Mays - 660, Ken Griffey Jr. - 630 and Sammy Sosa - 609, the ecstatic third baseman hopes to make his chances count in the coming years going above the 762 record. Whether that will happen or not is anyone’s guess, but many see it happening one day, including Derek Jeter who sees another 15 years coming from Alex. He’s the fourth player in the decade to cross the 600th mark and many do see him doing more after breaking the record.
However, before fans go ahead to list their expectations of the player, it is important to highlight the Major League Baseball’s most influential personality’s career. The versatile striker of the ball began his career with the Westminster Christian High School baseball team. Subsequently he became the first team prep All-American as a senior and went on to earn the USA Baseball Junior Player of the Year and the Gatorade’s National Baseball Student Athlete of the Year, making him the biggest prospect for that year. He also was the first high school player to try out for team USA in 1993 in the tryouts.
Rodriguez then went on to start off his professional career with the Seattle Mariners, when he was selected during an amateur draft. He went on to start for the team in 1994 at the age of about 18 years and 11 months. This made him the youngest player to start in MLB, for the last ten years and the first for Seattle, ever. After breaking a good streak with the team in his first MLB start in 1996, the player established himself as a formidable Short Stopper (SS), becoming the first SS to win the batting title award since 1960. The player also went close to clinching the Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award, falling short of Juan González by just 3 points, making the MVP as the second closest in American League voting history. He became the first youngest SS to play in an All-Star game. Alex went on to start in another all star game the next year, while featuring in the 2000 American League playoffs with the Yankees.
Eventually, after becoming a free agent in 2000, the versatile shot stopper went to the Texas Rangers on a 10-year deal estimated to be worth $252 million. There, the hitter faced a highly turbulent task of batting out of his wits as the team was struggling, in the league. However, in 2003, the short stopper finally won the Most Valuable Player Award, setting his stage for an exit to the Yankees after a failed transfer attempt to the Boston Red Sox. In retrospect, the maestro striker recorded 50 home runs with 200 hits in a single season - the highest since 1932. It was also the highest for any short stopper. He led the Rangers in runs, hits, doubles, homers, RBI, slugging, and on-base percentage.
Ever since the Rangers, Alex has played for the Yankees. He attained the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player award twice - one in 2005 and the other in 2007. With the Bronx based team, he became the youngest player to pass the 350th home run mark. He also became the first ever player to maintain 35 home runs, 100 runs, and 100 RBIs in 12th consecutive seasons ousting Jimmie Foxx, Manny Ramirez and Babe Ruth off the tie breaker. He has been in the AL All-Star team on 12 occasions. He’s also won the AL silver slugger award 10 times. Now, Rodriguez has clinched the 600th hit wonder.
So with a stellar display of accolades like these, one must wonder what is left in the charismatic player. The fact that the third baseman is still on his pursuit for glory to break the home run record, calls for many spectators to keep their eyes open for the coming years as a lot of accomplishments looked to be grabbed.
Tags: