Lakeland, Fla. • New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez played in the field for the first time during his three-game rehab assignment with the Single A Tampa Yankees on Saturday afternoon.
He flew out to shallow right in his first at-bat, grounded out and struck out twice. He handled his only chance at third when he fielded a soft grounder.
Rodriguez is 0-for-7 with four strikeouts during his stint with the Tampa Yankees.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman indicated that there was a good chance that Rodriguez would join the Yankees on Monday when they open a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays.
Around the League
Nationals • The Washington Nationals reinstated OF Mark DeRosa from the 15-day disabled list and recalled left-handed pitcher John Lannan, catcher Sandy Leon and outfielder Eury Perez from Triple-A Syracuse.
Rays • Tampa Bay right-handed pitcher Jeff Niemann left Saturday's game at Toronto in the fourth inning with tightness in his right arm.
Activated off the 60-day disabled list before the game, Niemann was pitching for the first time since May 14, when he left a start at Toronto with a fractured right leg after being struck by Adam Lind's line drive.