Alex Rodriguez was back at Yankee Stadium on Monday for the opening day of the Major League Baseball season but made only a fleeting appearance.

The injured third baseman, who underwent hip surgery in January, remains on the disabled list and is expected to miss the first half of the season, so he did not make it onto the field.

Although he was dressed in the team uniform, he was not introduced to the crowd, remaining on the bench after briefly speaking with reporters outside the clubhouse.

"I don't need to be introduced to feel like I'm a part of this team," he said. "When I get introduced I want to be on the field and not look back."

It was the first time Rodriguez had spoken to reporters since he was named as a client of a Miami anti-aging clinic accused of supplying performance-enhancing drugs to leading baseball players.

Rodriguez confirmed he had spoken with investigators from the MLB Players Association but said he had nothing to add on the matter after he released a statement in February, denying the accusations against him.

"I'm not going to comment on that," he said. "I know you've got to ask that question. We put out a statement, and we definitely stand by that."

Reuters

(China Daily 04/03/2013 page24)