Alex Rodriguez, one of the most iconic players in New York Yankees history, was a dominant force at the plate throughout his career. Despite the controversies that followed him, Rodriguez was widely regarded as one of the best in his position. Now, ahead of Super Bowl LIX, he shared a heartfelt story about Kansas City Chiefs star Patrick Mahomes.
Rodriguez, a three-time American League MVP, has a unique connection to Mahomes. During his time with the Texas Rangers, he played alongside Patrickās father, Pat Mahomes, a former MLB pitcher. That bond led to an early encounter between Rodriguez and a young Mahomes, which the former slugger recently reminisced about on Instagram.
Before the Super Bowl, Rodriguez posted a throwback photo of himself with Mahomes as a child and shared a memorable story from his time in Texas. According to Rodriguez, Mahomes was already fascinated by the work ethic of elite athletes at a young age.
āI was working the other day after hitting plenty of home runs, and Patrick asked, āWhy are you working so hard today if you just hit all those home runs?ā I told him, āYou are only as good as what you do after greatness,āā Rodriguez recalled.
Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs throws out the first pitch prior to a game between the New York Yankees and Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 18, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri.
In the caption of his Instagram post, Rodriguez playfully acknowledged that Mahomes ultimately chose the right path by pursuing football. āIām so glad Patrick Mahomes didnāt listen to me! But in all seriousness, this story still gives me goosebumps,ā he wrote.
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Chiefs starās baseball roots have been well documented, and his fatherās MLB career undoubtedly played a role in shaping his athletic journey. While he could have followed in his dadās footsteps, Mahomes instead became one of the NFLās most electrifying quarterbacksāan evolution that even Rodriguez canāt help but admire.
Rodriguez reflects on Mahomesā baseball roots
Ahead of Sundayās pivotal matchup, Rodriguez shared insights into Patrick Mahomesā deep connection to baseball before ultimately choosing football. The Yankees legend reminisced about watching Mahomes develop as a young player.
āFrom watching Pat as a little kid at batting practice to seeing him go for the three-peat on Sunday, it has been incredible to witness his journey and see him grow into one of the best athletes of this generation. Good luck out there this weekend, Pat!ā Rodriguez said.
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Rodriguezās legacy in MLB
Yankees legend solidified his place among baseballās all-time greats with a legendary career, particularly with the Yankees. A 14-time All-Star and three-time American League MVP, Rodriguez played a key role in the Yankeesā most recent World Series title in 2009, cementing his status as one of the franchiseās most iconic players.
Despite his 2014 suspension, Rodriguez remains one of the most recognizable figures in Yankees history. His on-field accomplishments speak for themselves, 1,012 RBIs and 351 home runs underscore his dominance at the plate, leaving an indelible mark on Major League Baseball.
