For years, Alex Rodriguez was seen as the superstar who had it all: million-dollar contracts, historic records and celebrity romances. However, in the new HBO docuseries Alex vs A-Rod, the former baseball player opens a window into a pain that has accompanied him since childhood: the abandonment of his father.
In a conversation with PEOPLE, the former Yankees player confessed that baseball was born as a direct link with Victor Rodriguez, with whom he watched games from the time he was a baby. But at the age of 10, that bond was broken when his father left, leaving a wound that – he admits – still does not disappear despite years of therapy.
Rodriguez acknowledges that this episode deeply marked his emotional development, even during his years of fame. “I’m not asking for pity, nor am I a victim,” he explains, “but I know that a lot of people have been through the same thing. And I don’t know if it’s something you ever fully recover from”. Although he claims to have made progress through therapeutic processes, the absence of his father continues to be a central point in his personal development.
Former baseball player bets on being the father he never had
Fatherhood became the main focus of his adult life. Rodriguez says that from the day his first daughter was born, he promised himself to break the cycle that affected him as a child. The father of Natasha (22) and Ella (17), the result of his relationship with his ex-wife Cynthia Scurtis, the former player considers that his greatest achievement is not in baseball, but in his commitment to them.
My ex-wife is one of my best friends
Rodriguez highlights that his relationship with Cynthia has evolved into a modern family dynamic that prioritizes the emotional stability of their daughters. After divorcing in 2008, they maintained a close bond that included shared summers in New York, family vacations and even temporary moves to preserve closeness. “Cynthia is one of my best friends,” he says, stressing that the harmony between them has been key to raising their daughters.
A-Rod reflects on his mistakes and embraces a new chapter
The former athlete considers that participating in the docuseries was a deeply liberating process. Being able to tell his own story, including his successes and failures, allowed him to send a message to young athletes facing similar pressures. Rodriguez expresses the hope that sharing his experiences will serve as a warning to others: “If they can avoid some of the mistakes I made, then I’ve done my job”.
As for his present, A-Rod says he is going through one of the most positive stages of his life. He says that his mistakes, far from sinking him, led him to the personal growth he enjoys today. “I’ve never been happier,” he says, acknowledging that this well-being would not be possible without having faced the challenges and setbacks of the past.
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