Alex Rodriguez‘s iconic career was a dizzying combination of astonishing talent and controversy. He was a baseball prodigy who came up as a teenager with the Seattle Mariners and became a titan with the Texas Rangers. And then a champion with the New York Yankees. This man had an insane 696 home runs and won three MVP awards. But his run was also marred by scandal and a suspension. Now, after 32 years, he has completely reinvented himself, trading the batter’s box for the boardroom in a stunning power play.
This reflection was sparked by the man himself. Rodriguez recently shared a compelling story on his Instagram. It featured a screenshot of his own July 1, 2025, tweet. The post featured a split image of himself at 17 getting his first call and himself today making a call. The caption was brief but powerful, a deeply intimate moment of triumph that perfectly captured his remarkable journey. “1993: Got the call. 2025: Made the call. Grateful and humbled by the journey.”
That first “call” in 1993 changed everything for a 17-year-old high school phenom. He was drafted first overall by the Seattle Mariners in the MLB Draft. This led him on a path to superstardom. In 2001, he signed a $252 million 10-year contract with the Texas Rangers. His dominance continued in New York, where he helped the Yankees win a World Series. On the field, A-Rod was simply one of the best who ever played the game.
The second act (post-retirement) hit its extreme peak in 2025. This is the meaning behind “Made the call.” After a contentious legal battle, A-Rod and partner Marc Lore officially became the controlling owners of the NBA’s Minnesota Timberwolves and WNBA’s Minnesota Lynx. The NBA’s Board of Governors approved their $1.5 billion purchase on June 24, 2025. From a kid who received a phone call summoning him to a team, he grew up to be the man making the final call for two sports franchises. Talk about a full-circle moment.
But this blockbuster NBA deal was not his only major win in 2025. The business mogul has been collecting accolades all year, proving his reinvention is no fluke.
A-Rod’s grand slam year: More 2025 wins
The baseball pariah who became a media darling has also been wildly successful in broadcasting. In the month of May this year, he celebrated two Sports Emmy Awards for his work on FOX Sports. The network’s MLB studio show, featuring A-Rod, Kevin Burkhardt, and fellow legend David Ortiz, received the award for its outstanding postseason coverage.
His growing celebrity status was on full display at other major sporting events. On May 25, Rodriguez and his fellow teammate Derek Jeter posed together. They were the honorary starters of the 109th Indianapolis 500, waving the green flag. He also appeared onstage as a featured speaker at the HFA Show 2025. There, he delivered his “champion mindset” to an audience of fitness professionals. Each event shows a man now welcomed in circles far beyond the baseball diamond.
May 6, 2024; Denver, Colorado, USA; Former MLB player and Minnesota Timberwolves minority owner Alex Rodriguez before game two of the second round for the 2024 NBA playoffs against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports
His journey into ownership places him in a very small and elite group of athletes. He joins a handful of other former MLB stars who have made the leap from the field to the front office. Few have navigated this path. Another former Yankees teammate, Jeter, famously became CEO and part-owner of the Miami Marlins in 2017. But he resigned in 2022 after differences of opinion with the majority owner over the team’s direction. Pitching legend Nolan Ryan also had a successful run as a minority owner and CEO of the Texas Rangers, as well, and helped guide them to two World Series appearances.
Other baseball personalities have enjoyed similar success. Hall of Famer Cal Ripken Jr. owns several minor league teams under his Ripken Baseball company. And while best known as an NBA icon, Magic Johnson, who briefly played minor league ball, is a celebrated part-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. As a part-owner in a separate major league, Rodriguez’s role sets an even more powerful precedent for athlete investors. He is more than a famous face in the owner’s box; he is the one making the calls.
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