Rodriguez's professional journey began when he was selected first overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 1993 MLB Draft. Making his debut at the young age of 18, he quickly demonstrated his potential as a shortstop. By 1996, Rodriguez had a breakout season, batting .358 with 36 home runs and 123 RBIs, which earned him a second-place finish in the American League (AL) Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting.
After several productive seasons with the Mariners, Rodriguez signed a record-breaking 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers in 2000. During his time with the Rangers, he consistently delivered impressive performances, leading the league in home runs for three consecutive seasons from 2001 to 2003. In 2003, he won his first AL MVP award, despite the Rangers' struggles as a team.
In 2004, Rodriguez was traded to the New York Yankees, where he transitioned from shortstop to third base to accommodate Derek Jeter. His tenure with the Yankees was marked by both triumphs and controversies. Rodriguez won two more AL MVP awards in 2005 and 2007, solidifying his reputation as one of the game's top players. In 2007, he hit 54 home runs and drove in 156 runs, leading the league in both categories.
The pinnacle of Rodriguez's career with the Yankees came in 2009 when he played a crucial role in the team's World Series victory, their first since 2000. His postseason performance was instrumental, as he hit .365 with six home runs and 18 RBIs, dispelling previous criticisms of his playoff performances.
However, Rodriguez's career was not without its challenges. In 2009, he admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) earlier in his career while with the Rangers. This admission was a significant moment in his career, as it tainted his achievements in the eyes of many fans and analysts. The controversy surrounding PEDs resurfaced in 2013 when Rodriguez was implicated in the Biogenesis scandal, leading to a 162-game suspension for the entire 2014 season.
Despite these setbacks, Rodriguez returned to the Yankees in 2015 and continued to contribute to the team. He reached several career milestones, including hitting his 3,000th hit and 600th home run. By the time he retired in 2016, Rodriguez had amassed 696 home runs, ranking fourth on the all-time list, along with 3,115 hits and 2,086 RBIs.
Throughout his career, Rodriguez's talent on the field was often overshadowed by controversies off it. Nevertheless, his statistical achievements place him among the elite in baseball history.
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