Alex Rodriguez is getting some love from a few old friends ahead of his final game in pinstripes.
Derek Jeter was one of many former New York Yankees legends to offer the designated hitter praise before Friday's farewell contest in the Bronx. It was Jeter and A-Rod who came up at the same time as part of a wave of young power-hitting shortstops in the late 1990s that changed how the position is viewed.
"I've spent 22 years playing against, playing with, and watching Alex from afar, and there are two things that stand out to me most: the conversations we had when we were young - hoping for the opportunity to play at the major-league level and then somehow finding a way to stick around - and the championship we won together in 2009," Jeter said in a statement Friday afternoon. "That was a season everyone on that team can cherish."
Rodriguez and Jeter were close friends during their early years in baseball, but their relationship soured amid the bright lights of New York and playing on the same team. In 2007, Rodriguez shed a bit of light on where things stood between the two superstars by telling reporters that he and Jeter "had a good working relationship."
Related: New Yorkers' love-hate relationship with A-Rod
Although their relationship today may be chilly, Jeter made sure to salute Rodriguez's work ethic and passion for baseball in his remarks.
"What people don't realize is how much time, effort, and work that Alex put in on a daily basis," Jeter continued. "He lives and breathes baseball. I know it will be difficult for him to not be on the field, but I'm sure he will continue to give back to the game. Congrats, Alex."
Former Yankees manager Joe Torre, who managed A-Rod during his first four seasons with the club, echoed Jeter's sentiments and praised the slugger's love of his sport.
"Alex was a hard worker, a genuine fan of the game and possessed great ability," Torre said. "In our time together, I always knew that the game mattered to him. Baseball teaches all of us at some point, and I think he should be proud of the way he carried himself these last two years. I wish Alex and his family all the best in the future."
Other Yankee legends to offer praise to Rodriguez included Andy Pettitte, Mariano Rivera, and current Seattle Mariners second baseman Robinson Cano, who called Rodriguez "one of the best teammates I've had."
Rodriguez will hit third and serve as the Yankees' designated hitter Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays.
