Unless he suffers a setback during the next two days, Alex Rodriguez is on track to make his season debut for the Yankees on Friday against the Orioles.

Alex Rodriguez is scheduled to play another extended spring training game in Florida today. And while the Yankees are playing super-secret with their plans for the third baseman, it sounds like he’s headed for Baltimore on Friday.

Joe Girardi said he and Rodriguez discussed a scenario where A-Rod would play today, rest tomorrow and then join the Yankees. Or he could play two more games in Florida.
Regardless, it looks like Rodriguez will be back a full week earlier than predicted.

It’ll be interesting to see how A-Fraud does in his return because he didn’t opt to have full surgery, just hybrid surgery that (to my understanding) didn’t correct the entire issue but would allow him to play this season. Considering he didn’t have full corrective surgery, will he have issues fielding, diving or getting full range of motion when he swings? Is he doing more damage to the hip by rushing back?

Time will tell if he can bounce back right away or if it’ll take him a couple months before recovers (if he can, that is). Either way, Yankee fans have to be ecstatic about his return, especially considering the club just placed catcher Jorge Posada on the DL and they need A-Fraud’s bat.