A-Rod Homers on First Pitch Back in Majors

At 34, he's the youngest to ever do it

(NEWSER) - You can stop holding your breath, world. Alex Rodriguez at long last hit his 600th home run today. It's been 12 games since Rodriguez hit his 599th round-tripper, a stretch that seemed even longer because of the hype surrounding the impending milestone. But it's probably unfair to complain too much, since he is the youngest player to ever hit 600. It's also happens to be exactly three years to the day since A-Rod's 500th homer. More»

Sources tell author slugger used in high school and after NY transfer

(NEWSER) - An explosive new book probing deep into A-Rod's career suggests the slugger has failed to fully come clean about his steroid use, the New York Daily News reports. Rodriguez insists he only used steroids as a Texas Ranger, but the book quotes sources who believe he was juicing both as a high school player and after coming to New York. More»

(NEWSER) - Jason Gay interviewed Alex Rodriguez just a day before his past dalliances with performance-enhancing drugs were uncovered, he writes in Details. A-Rod knew what was coming, but the star was more concerned that his favorite Madonna song not be published, for fear of it being played at away games. “Looking back, his preoccupation seems surreal,” Gay writes. The interview, by the way, is drawing more attention for its photos, which show A-Rod kissing his own image in a mirror. More»

He played until fifth inning against Blue Jays

(NEWSER) - Despite the cacophony of boos, cheers, and cat calls hurled his way, Alex Rodriguez hit a two-run home run today in his first spring-training game for the New York Yankees, the AP reports. The maligned third baseman played until the fifth inning at the Toronto Blue Jays’ ballpark—his first game since admitting he took performance-enhancing drugs. More»

(NEWSER) - A man who was once a close associate of Alex Rodriguez is suspected of trafficking in steroids and has been banned from non-public areas of big-league ballparks since 2001, the New York Daily News reports. Angel Presinal, called "an unsavory character" by one source, has been close to the superstar infielder since his days with the Texas Rangers and traveled with him throughout the 2007 season. "Several people have warned Alex about this guy," said another source. More»