Alex Rodriguez On Balance, Business And Baseball

Alex Rodriguez is a busy man these days.

Not only is the former MLB star the chairman and CEO of A-Rod Corp, a broad-based investment firm he founded, he’s also CEO of Slam Corp, a SPAC focused in consumer tech, media, entertainment and health and wellness, an owner of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Lynx, a strategic advisor to the Professional Fighters League, chairman of Presidente beer, an Emmy-winning baseball analyst for Fox Sports and ESPN, and a father of two.

There’s probably plenty more but you get the point. While simply reading that may be exhausting to some, Rodriguez explains how he manages it all.

“I think balance is super important,” Rodriguez said. “One of the things I talk about is priorities. My office knows I’m very structured and I have a routine. I’m in the office every day, suit and tie 12-6, but from 8-12 that’s my time—that’s when I get to do my cardio or if I want to lift, yoga, sauna, whatever part of my routine is that day. Then I go 12-6, and then I’m home with the girls and my family.

“I think that structure has worked really well for me rather than being all over the place. Instead of going wide and shallow, it’s about going narrow and deep and focusing on the things that are most important to me, which is my family first and then my work.”

While Rodriguez’s on-field resume—696 career home runs (fifth all-time), 2,086 RBIs (fourth), 2,021 runs (eighth), 14-time MLB All-Star, three-time AL MVP and 2009 World Series champion—speaks for itself, A-Rod has amassed an equally impressive empire in business, entrepreneurship and philanthropy off the diamond.

The former shortstop/third baseman has been a beneficiary of being both a mentor and mentee, working with the likes of Warren Buffett, Barry Sternlicht, Jon Gray, Mary Erdoes and Marc Lore. Rodriguez was also quick to point out that Magic Johnson played a role in helping shape his business career, not only as a friend, but as a mentor.

“They teach me business and I try to teach them a little baseball,” Rodriguez said with a laugh. “It’s a good exchange.”

While he continues to succeed by finding balance in his day-to-day life as well as his business ventures, Rodriguez is also benefiting from the balance he has with Lore, founder, chairman and CEO of Wonder Group.

The duo announced in May 2021 their intent to buy the Timberwolves for $1.5 billion. In December, Lore and Rodriguez exercised their option to purchase another 20% of the Timberwolves and WNBA’s Lynx as part of their three-step plan to assume full control of the franchises from majority owner Glen Taylor.

They closed their second, $290 million payment in March and have until December 31 to purchase another 40%, which Rodriguez confirmed is “definitely on time” and that they’re “excited and ready to go.”

“Marc has become in a short minute beyond a friend, he’s been like a brother to me,” Rodriguez said. “We are both New Yorkers, we both come from very humble beginnings, and we both have two daughters. And then we’re the exact opposite in everything else.

“Everything he’s absolutely great at, which is a lot of numbers—he’s very much like Rain Man—I’m terrible at. Some of the things I bring to the table like 25 years of experience, being a world champion, being able to lead great people into battle on the baseball field are complementary to him. I think it’s been a wonderful partnership.”

Bullish on baseball’s evolution

When he isn’t reviewing financial forms, Rodriguez is keeping a keen eye on Major League Baseball and the sport overall not only through his analyst work for two major networks, but as someone who played in the league for 22 seasons.

With attendance and viewership stagnant or declining, MLB introduced a slew of new rules and regulations ahead of the 2023 season to not only speed up games, but to make them more exciting for (younger) fans and viewers.

A pitch clock was introduced to limit the length of time between pitches. The defensive shift has been eliminated to promote more hitting and action. Bases increased in size from 15 inches to 18 inches.

“It’s always hard for baseball because we’re married to our history so much to make really aggressive, bold changes,” Rodriguez said. “I love the changes. I think they’re phenomenal. I think baseball’s going to bring the glory days back, especially because of these two changes—the time clock that’s shaved about 30 minutes off these games and then eliminating the shift and promoting line-to-line pure hitters.”

Through early April, batting average was up 16 points, stolen bases spiked 30% and the average game length is down 31 minutes and is on track to be the sport’s lowest since 1984.

OraPharma partnership

As if he needed another thing on his plate, Rodriguez was recently diagnosed with early-stage gum disease, despite never using chewing tobacco during his playing days.

With more than 65 million Americans with gum disease, Rodriguez partnered with pharmaceutical company OraPharma to bring awareness to oral healthcare, especially to the Hispanic community where more than 51% of adults have gum disease.

“I just went to my regular dentist meeting, which I don’t think anybody enjoys doing, but during that process I found out that I have gum disease,” he said. “Obviously anytime you hear the word ‘disease’ you get super scared but the good news is I found out it’s treatable.

“OraPharma is doing some incredible things and I really respect the work they’re doing. That’s when you take 1+1=3, so using my platform to let my followers know that this is something they can get ahead of, be proactive and learn from me. It’s something that’s important.”

A-Rod balks on doc talk

In April, the New York Post reported Rodriguez was working with Gotham Chopra and Religion of Sports, a production company he co-founded with Michael Straham and Tom Brady, on a documentary about the baseball player’s life.

While the report suggests Rodriguez is “looking to follow Derek Jeter with up-close and maybe personal documentary about his life,” a la ESPN’s The Captain, Rodriguez was quick to point out that nothing was in the works—yet.

“Nothing to report,” Rodriguez said. “We’ve been approached by pretty much everyone with interest about telling my story. I think when the time is right I’ll report something, but nothing to report right now.”