New York, December 28, 2025 – Alex Rodriguez, a name synonymous with baseball power and controversy, isn’t losing sleep over a potential Hall of Fame induction. In fact, he’s actively at peace with the likelihood he won’t be enshrined in Cooperstown.
A Shift in Perspective
Rodriguez, a three-time AL MVP, has publicly stated he’s “divorced” himself from the idea of Hall of Fame recognition, finding greater fulfillment in his current life and personal growth.
- Rodriguez ranks among baseball’s all-time home run leaders, with 696 career blasts.
- His legacy is complicated by a suspension stemming from a performance-enhancing drug scandal.
- Therapy and self-reflection have been pivotal in his acceptance of his past and present.
- He now prioritizes personal well-being over accolades.
With 696 home runs, Rodriguez stands fifth all-time, trailing only Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), and Albert Pujols (703). He also ranks fourth in career RBIs with 2,086, behind Aaron (2,297), Pujols (2,218), and Ruth (2,214). But these impressive statistics are inextricably linked to a complicated past, including admitting to using performance-enhancing drugs and a suspension related to the 2013 Biogenesis lab scandal that sidelined him for the 2014 season.
Finding Peace Beyond the Game
“I have a life today that I didn’t have for the first 40 years,” Rodriguez told an interviewer. “If I went to the Hall of Fame, in a weird way, I would be hollow inside. I would still be in a lot of pain. I would rather have what I have today, because it really helped me unlock a lot of the work that I needed to do.”
The 50-year-old’s journey toward self-acceptance hasn’t been easy. He’s openly described himself as a “recovering narcissist” and acknowledges the lingering animosity from some fans, particularly those who remember his time with the New York Yankees. Even more than a decade after his playing days, the wounds of past controversies remain fresh for many in the Bronx.
Rodriguez isn’t surprised by this reaction. He’s used self-reflection to understand the source of the fans’ feelings. He shared that his daughters, Natasha and Ella, have viewed old interviews and barely recognize the person he once was.
The Power of Therapy
A significant part of his transformation has been through therapy, specifically with the late Dr. David Schnarch, a trauma therapist and clinical psychologist. Schnarch helped Rodriguez re-examine the years leading up to his 2014 suspension, confront his past behavior, and understand the factors that contributed to his polarizing public image.
“I’m like, ‘Whoa, what the hell am I doing here? This doesn’t make any sense,’” Rodriguez recalled. “But the more I stayed with it, the more it started to really affect me in a positive way. Seeing things in a different way and then looking at my past, definitely not as a victim but understanding some of my behavior and making sure that I’m learning from those behaviors and it never happens again.”
Alex Rodriguez once was a polarizing baseball star chasing greatness. Now, his focus is on being a better person. He credits therapy for his personal transformation. (C. Morgan Engel / Getty Images)
A Story of Transformation
Rodriguez’s journey is chronicled in the HBO docuseries “Alex vs. A-Rod,” released last month. While he acknowledges the continued presence of both supporters and detractors after 22 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Yankees, he’s found a sense of peace in his current life.
Filmmakers Gotham Chopra and Erik LeDrew aimed to present a side of Rodriguez that hadn’t been widely shared. Having followed Rodriguez since he was the No. 1 pick in the 1993 MLB Draft, they sought honesty and accountability. Chopra, a Boston Red Sox fan, specifically asked Rodriguez if he would be willing to address his past mistakes.
“Is he going to talk honestly?” Chopra said. “And is he going to be accountable for the mistakes that he made?”
LeDrew, a lifelong Ken Griffey Jr. fan, appreciated Rodriguez’s openness about his childhood and his therapeutic process. Rodriguez had previously declined similar biographical projects, but with his daughters growing older, he felt the time was right to share his story.
“Aggregated media of 30-something years of his life in the public spotlight. I think that was kind of why he was ready for it,” LeDrew said. “Our approach was to focus on the hardest chapter of his life, the most interesting chapter of his life, and it kind of evolved because it all harkens back to his childhood.”
Beyond Baseball
The “A-Rod” persona served him well on the field, but Rodriguez now embraces simply being “Alex.” He’s a part-owner of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx, and also works as an analyst for Fox’s MLB coverage.
He credits much of his growth to Dr. Schnarch, and wishes his therapist were still alive to witness his progress. “The year (of) suspension gave me this time and the space and the privacy to really dig in and turn that lens inward,” Rodriguez said. “Where I am today, I think is a hundred percent connected to the work that I did. So, if the Hall of Fame was a price, then, you know, that’s on me.”
Rodriguez is eligible for the Hall of Fame ballot in 2026. He compares his acceptance of this likely outcome to his decision to forgo a final MLB season to reach 700 career home runs – a milestone achieved by only four players. A younger version of himself would have pursued the record, but the current version values peace.
“I had three teams call me, and it took me less than five minutes to say, ‘You know what? (Having 696 and ending with the Yankees) is greater than (hitting No.) 700 with any other team; I’m good,” he said. “The irony is my mom, my brother, my sister, my parents, everybody was pissed off at me for weeks that I didn’t get those four home runs. But I’m actually good with it. Just like I’m good if I don’t get into the Hall of Fame.”
