After Alex Rodriguez’s 20th home run Wednesday night—a 450-foot shot to left-center field that helped the Yankees to a 4–3 win over the Orioles—there can be no doubt on who is having the most surprising, turn-back-the-clock performance in the majors this year.
It’s A-Rod in a runaway vote.
The soon-to-be 40-year-old (on July 27) is not only still on the mid-season roster and hitting cleanup in the lineup (there was doubt whether he would even be playable and if the Yankees would have to eat the three years and some $60 million left on his deal), he’s actually thriving.
The former three-time MVP is currently putting up a .275/.375/.518 batting line while on pace for 35 home runs and 94 RBIs. Both would be his best totals since 2008—the year after the last of his three MVP awards.
Why was there such preseason skepticism?
