Alex Rodriguez (A-Rod) 'surprised... very happy' to be part of Yankees' '09 WS reunion #yankees #mlb

Several first-time attendees were on hand for Old Timers' Day at Yankee Stadium on Saturday, but only Alex Rodriguez's history with the organization was rocky enough to wonder if he would ever be welcomed to the annual celebration."I was actually surprised that I got an invitation," Rodríguez said during a news conference alongside other members of the Yankees' 2009 championship team, which was commemorated on its 15th anniversary. "Honored. Very happy."Rodriguez spoke sitting between Derek Jeter and A.J. Burnett on a dais. Mariano Rivera and Joe Girardi, the 2009 team's manager, were seated on the ends. They shared memories of the 2009 club, the last one to win a World Series for the franchise. They offered their thoughts on Aaron Judge and winning. Jeter cracked a few jokes.They all wore Yankees home jerseys. For Rodríguez, that was especially noteworthy: The last time he donned the pinstripes was Aug. 12, 2016 -- the day of his last game as a major leaguer.