With an asterisk now next to his baseball career, Alex Rodriguez is trying to mend fences as he resumes his playing career.
New York Yankees 3B Alex Rodriguez has written a letter to Yankees fans apologizing for his behavior and mistakes that led to his 2014 suspension from baseball.
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ESPN.com reported that A-Rod wrote the letter in lieu of doing a formal press conference or media session. Rodriguez was suspended for part of the 2013 season and the entire 2014 season for PED use and reportedly admitted in a DEA investigation that he took PEDs from 2010 to 2012.
The statement read as follows:
“I take full responsibility for the mistakes that led to my suspension for the 2014 season… I regret that my actions made the situation worse than it needed to be. To Major League Baseball, the Yankees, the Steinbrenner family, the Players Association and you, the fans, I can only say I’m sorry.
“I accept the fact that many of you will not believe my apology or anything that I say at this point. I understand why and that’s on me. It was gracious of the Yankees to offer me the use of Yankee Stadium for this apology but I decided the next time I am in Yankee Stadium, I should be in pinstripes doing my job.”
“I served the longest suspension in the history of the League for PED use… The Commissioner has said the matter is over. The Players Association has said the same. The Yankees have said the next step is to play baseball.
“I’m ready to put this chapter behind me and play some ball.
“This game has been my single biggest passion since I was a teenager. When I go to Spring training, I will do everything I can to be the best player and teammate possible, earn a spot on the Yankees and help us win.”
A-Rod met with the Yankees recently to discuss the steps he could take to apologize to the Yankees – whom he once threatened to sue – and the fanbase, many of whom withdrew their support for the Yankees star in the wake of many of A-Rod’s questionable decisions and alleged threats made against people who tried to expose him for steroid use.
The Yankees offered to let A-Rod use Yankee Stadium as the site for a formal press conference, but he declined the offer.
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