It’s one start, but Alex Rodriguez looked natural at the hot corner.
A-Rod was the starting third baseman for Sunday’s 3-2 win against Washington. He had been the designated hitter in two earlier exhibition games.
Rodriguez got his first test in the third inning, when Tyler Moore bounced a ball down the third-base line. A-Rod fielded it cleanly, pivoted and displayed a still-strong arm, firing across the diamond for his first post-suspension put-out.
Yankees manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman say Chase Headley will be their starting third baseman and Rodriguez will compete for at-bats at DH. Rodriguez is also going to get limited time at third and possibly first base.
Suspended for violations of baseball’s drug agreement and labor contract, Rodriguez missed all of last season. The three-time AL MVP, who turns 40 in July, has not played a full season since 2007 because of the suspension, operations on both hips and other injuries.