New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez suffered a right hamstring injury Tuesday night against the Baltimore Orioles.
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Rodriguez Headed for MRI
Tuesday, May 3
According to MLB.com's Bryan Hoch, Yankees manager Joe Girardi confirmed Rodriguez will undergo an MRI Wednesday.
Rodriguez is 40 years old and past his physical prime, so any injury is reason for worry as the Yankees look to challenge for a postseason spot in the American League East. He already suffered an oblique injury earlier in the season, so this marks another setback.
Through 20 games, Rodriguez is batting .194 with five home runs and 12 RBI.
The 22-year veteran missed the 2014 campaign due to a performance-enhancing-drug suspension, but he was impressive in 2015 with 33 home runs and 86 RBI. While his ties to performance-enhancing drugs linger over his legacy, he is one of the most prolific power hitters in MLB history.
Even at an advanced age, the Yankees will miss Rodriguez's presence in the heart of the order. Those who hit in front of him often see better pitches because opponents don’t want to put people on base before him, which means his absence will be felt beyond his individual at-bats.
The silver lining for New York is the fact Rodriguez is primarily the designated hitter, so it doesn’t have to worry about replacing someone in the field as well. The Yankees still need to find a solid hitter to carry some of the offensive load while he heals, though.
Carlos Beltran can fill in at designated hitter on days when Aaron Hicks or Dustin Ackley plays in the outfield. The versatile Ackley can also play first base, which would allow Mark Teixeira to occupy the designated hitter role at times as well.
Like Rodriguez, Beltran and Teixeira are veteran sluggers who add proven power to the New York lineup. Beltran had 11 seasons with more than 20 home runs entering the 2016 campaign, while Teixeira had 12. If the two show consistent power in 2016, the Yankees can remain afloat in the postseason race for as long as Rodriguez remains sidelined.
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