Summary The 39-year-old third baseman was among more than a dozen players who were suspended
TAMPA (AFP) - Disgraced dope-cheat Alex Rodriguez, who missed the entire 2014 Major League Baseball season serving a record ban for performance-enhancing drugs, reported to the New York Yankees training camp Monday.
Rodriguez took his physical at the Yankees pre-season workout complex in Florida two days before the full squad was scheduled to report and three days ahead of the first scheduled team workout.
The 39-year-old third baseman was among more than a dozen players who were suspended as a result of the Biogensis clinic scandal uncovered in 2013, but "A-Rod" received the longest ban, in part because attempting to impede Major League Baseball s investigation of the matter.
Rodriguez, a three-time American League Most Valuable Player, was originally given a 211-game ban but it was later reduced to 162 games, the entire 2014 campaign.
Last week, Rodriguez issued an open letter of apology to fans, teammates, the Yankees and Major League Baseball for his actions as he begins to try and work his way back into the team.
His early arrival might allow him to face questions from the media before most of his team-mates arrive in camp, reducing the distractions around them as they prepare for their first pre-season game March 3 against Philadelphia.
With the Yankees set to pay Rodriguez $61 million over the next three seasons, they are expected to see how well he can play even as they look at other prospects for fielding duty and designated hitter positions.
Rodriguez has 654 career home runs, six shy of Willie Mays for fourth on Major League Baseball s all-time homers list and 108 off the record 762 hit by Barry Bonds.
