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Agent: A-Rod Likely Needs Hip Surgery

Associated Press photo

Rodriguez played Tuesday for the Dominican Republic in Jupiter before having his hip checked out in Colorado.

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TBO.com

Published: March 5, 2009

Updated: 03/05/2009 02:45 pm

TAMPA - Alex Rodriguez likely needs hip surgery to remove a cyst, his agent told SI.com, and several published reports quote the baseball star's brother saying the surgery is scheduled for Monday.

"I can't say much because of the HIPAA rules," agent Scott Boras told SI.com. "I have spoken to Alex. He is there visiting [Philippon], and he is going to see him today. "Obviously, [Alex is] concerned. He was playing well. It has obviously been a difficult two days for him."

Rodriguez's brother, Joe Dunand, also says the New York Yankees' third baseman will need 10 weeks to rehabilitate. Dunand was quoted by ESPNdeportes.com and LasMayores.com, the Spanish version of MLB.com, as saying the surgery will be performed by Marc Phillipon in Vail, Colo.

The New York Daily News said that a "source close to Rodriguez" confirmed the story.

The Yankees have made no comment on the reports.

Hours after Rodriguez played Tuesday for the Dominican Republic in a tuneup for the World Baseball Classic, the New York Yankees announced he would get his ailing hip checked by a specialist.

An exam Saturday revealed a cyst in Rodriguez's right hip, and the 33-year-old slugger visited Phillipon on Wednesday in Vail.

It has been a rough spring training for the All-Star third baseman.

Rodriguez arrived at the Yankees' camp last month in Tampa, shortly after a report that he had positive for steroids in 2003. During a news conference, he admitted he had used performance-enhancing drugs in 2001-03, saying they came from the Dominican and were provided by his cousin.

The man identified as that cousin picked up Rodriguez in an SUV after the Yankees' first exhibition game against Toronto in Dunedin. The next day, the Yankees told Rodriguez that his cousin should not be anywhere near the team during spring training or the regular season.

Rodriguez met with Major League Baseball's Department of Investigations and Labor Relations Department for two hours Sunday. MLB wanted to interview him about his use of banned substances, and the commissioner's office said Rodriguez was "cooperative."

Rodriguez went 1-for-3 with a double and scored Tuesday in the Dominicans' 10-1 win over the Florida Marlins in Jupiter. He left after 4½ innings, and did not disclose his ailment during postgame interviews.

Rodriguez felt tightness and stiffness in his right hip this spring and was examined by team physician Chris Ahmad on Saturday, the Yankees said. An MRI exam showed the cyst.

The club contacted Phillipon, a specialist at Steadman-Hawkins Clinic, and Wednesday was the first day the doctor could see Rodriguez at his office.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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