New York Yankees’ Alex Rodriguez Looking to Build on “Cinderella-Type Season”

New York Yankees designated hitter Alex Rodriguez has wasted no time preparing for the 2016 season, having already resumed baseball-related activities in the hopes of building on what he called termed "Cinderella-type season" in 2015.

The 40-year-old Rodriguez, who was suspended for the entire 2014 season, came back and wasn't even a lock to make the team out of Spring Training. However, he managed to secure himself a job with the bat and went on to hit .250 with 33 homeruns and 86 RBI. And while he fell short of Comeback Player of the Year, he proved he still had plenty of gas left in the tank.

Heading into 2016, A-Rod will not only look to raise his batting average, but drive in more runs. Ideally, hitting in either the No. 3 or No. 4 spot, he'd drive in 100+ runs and provide a few more opportunities for those hitting behind him.

Just as it was a year ago, the Yankees will move forward with a key piece they didn't initially expect to have.

Alex Rodriguez hopes to build off 'Cinderella-type season' in 2016

No one was more surprised with Alex Rodriguez's comeback season last year than the man himself.

At 40 years old, A-Rod belted 33 homers, drove in 86 runs and played more than 150 games for the first time since 2007.
"I think that's probably the biggest surprise the whole year for everyone. I certainly didn't think in spring training that I would come close to playing 150 times, and I'm grateful for that," Rodriguez said after the Yankees' loss in the 2015 Wild Card playoff.
"I never thought I would be able to come back and play baseball and have so much fun."
Part of that success can be attributed to his new role as the Yankees' everyday designated hitter, a move that Rodriguez has embraced as he looks forward to his 22nd MLB season.
Alex set the bar quite high for himself, but he voiced his desire to build off his impressive 2015 campaign while speaking at a holiday concert hosted by the Steinbrenner family in Tampa Bay last Tuesday.
''A Cinderella-type season,'' Rodriguez said, referring to last year. ''In so many ways a dream season. I'm just so fortunate to be back, and be welcomed by, obviously, the Steinbrenners, all my teammates, the fans of New York. I'm look forward to building on that."
Rodriguez was a .278 hitter over the first half of last season, finishing the year with a .250 clip. His power numbers remained consistent, as he blasted a team-leading 15 homers after the All-Star break. His slugging percentage of .486 was the highest it's been in five years, and Rodriguez earned a nomination for MLB's Comeback Player of the Year award for the American League.
The Yankees welcomed their latest acquisition, Starlin Castro, to the team on Tuesday, and perhaps Rodriguez will be able to share his knowledge of the game with the young second baseman, just as Alfonso Soriano did when he was a Cub.
"I challenge you one day when you're old like me, when you are successful and you're making an impact, to come back on days like this and pay it forward," Rodriguez said to 1,500 grade school students at Tuesday's holiday concert.
Though A-Rod was referring to educational skills like reading and writing with his quote, the same words could also translate to what he'll be doing in the clubhouse next season with the newest batch of young Yankees.