Alex Rodriguez has decided he won't represent either of the two teams he was considering playing for, the United States or the Dominican Republic.
Rodriguez was torn between paying tribute to his parents, who are both Dominican, and the country where he calls home. He was born and raised in New York City.
"When faced with the decision to choose between my country, the United States of America, and my Dominican heritage, I decided I will not dishonor either," Rodriguez was quoted as saying in Friday's editions of the New York Post.
Alex Rodriguez has decided not to play in the World Baseball Classic. (AP File Photo)
Baseball officials said at last week's winter meetings that the superstar third baseman and two-time AL MVP had to agreed to play in the tournament. Two days ago he said he was leaning toward being on the Dominican team. But he changed his mind since.
"He called me yesterday," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Friday.
Gene Orza, chief operating officer of the players' association, hopes Rodriguez will reconsider.
"Alex has, and I'm sure continues, to agonize over this decision," Orza said in an e-mail to The Associated Press. "I would not regard his statement yesterday as the final or definitive word. Alex is also devoted to the growth of baseball internationally, and is a fan of baseball in the Olympics. He realizes that the WBC serves both of those interests. We haven't spoken yet. We will. And having known and respected him since he was a drafted, my suspicion is that, in the end, fans around the world will see Alex in a WBC uniform."
with files from Associated Press
