Alex Rodriguez's biggest moments: From draft day to retirement
Alex Rodriguez's 22-year major league career was filled with crowning achievements and no shortage of turbulence - none bigger than those in his dozen years spent with the New York Yankees.
On Sunday, A-Rod announced that he will play his final game with the Yankees on Friday against the Tampa Bay Rays. A look back at some of his defining moments:
June 3, 1993: Drafted first overall by the Seattle Mariners and decides to sign instead of attending the University of Miami.
July 8, 1994: Makes his major league debut for the Mariners in Boston, becoming just the third 18-year-old shortstop in the big leagues since 1900.
July 9: Records his first big league hit, a single off the Red Sox's Sergio Valdez. Finishes the game 2-for-4 with a stolen base.
June 12, 1995: Hits his first major league home run, a solo shot against Kansas City's Tom Gordon.
June 5, 1997: Becomes the fifth-youngest player to hit for the cycle, accomplishing the at Detroit. He homers in the first, singles in the fourth, triples in the eighth and doubles in the ninth.
June 1, 1999: Records his 100th career steal when he swipes a bag against the Orioles, but also misses 32 games during the season with a knee injury.
Dec. 11, 2000: Signs a 10-year, $252 million contract with the Texas Rangers. It's the largest contract in professional sports history.
May 5, 2001: Tallies his 1,000th career hit on a single against the White Sox.
Sept. 25, 2002: Hits his 57th and final home run of the season. Finishes the year with the sixth-most home runs in AL history, including the most ever by a non-first baseman infielder.
April 2, 2003: Hits a three-run home run against the Anaheim Angels to become the youngest player to tally 300 home runs.
Sept. 12: Becomes the second-youngest player to score 1,000 runs, setting the mark by scoring against Oakland.
Feb. 16, 2004:
After waiving his no-trade clause, is acquired by the Yankees in exchange for second baseman Alfonso Soriano and a player to be named later. Texas agrees to pay $67 million of the $179 million left on his contract. Commissioner Bud Selig approves the trade the following day.
May 4: Hits his 350th home run and becomes the third-youngest player to drive in 1,000 runs later in the game.
April 26, 2005: Slugs three home runs and drives in 10 runs in a rout of the Los Angeles Angels.
June 8: Joins the 400-home run club by smashing two at Milwaukee, becoming the youngest player to do so.
Nov.: Wins his second AL MVP award after leading the league in home runs (48), runs scored (124) and on-base plus slugging (1.031).
Aug. 4, 2007: Becomes the 22nd member of the 500-home run club with his three-run shot against the Royals. He is the youngest player to reach the mark.
Oct. 29: Opts out of his $252 million contract with the Yankees, leaving $72 million on the table. New York says it will not attempt to re-sign the free agent.
Nov. : Wins his third AL MVP after leading the league in home runs (54), RBI (156), runs scored (143), OPS (1.067).
Dec. 16: Three days after the Mitchell Report is released, he tells 60 Minutes he does not use and has never used "steroids, human growth hormone, or any other performance-enhancing substance."
Dec. 17: Sets a new record by signing a 10-year contract worth $275 million with the Yankees.
Feb. 7, 2009:Sports Illustrated reports that Rodriguez tested positive for steroids in 2003 survey testing. Days later, he admits to taking performance-enhancing drugs during his time in Texas, citing immense pressure to live up to expectations. He reiterates that he has not doped since joining the Yankees.
Aug. 1: Joins the Taylor Hooton Foundation to discourage young athletes from using steroids and warn them of drugs' negative side effects.
Oct. 9: Hits game-tying, ninth-inning, two-run home run off Joe Nathan in Game 2 of AL Division Series, reversing four seasons of mostly futile postseason efforts.
Oct.: Bats .365 and hits six home runs with 18 RBI over 15 games as the Yankees win the World Series.
Feb. 28, 2010: The New York Daily News reports that Rodriguez could be linked to Tony Galea, a Canadian doctor facing charges for smuggling drugs into the United States.
Aug. 4: Hits his 600th home run and becomes the youngest player to reach the milestone. He is the seventh players to ever reach that number -- Barry Bonds (762), Hank Aaron (755), Babe Ruth (714), Willie Mays (660), Ken Griffey Jr. (630) and Sammy Sosa (609).
Dec. 3, 2012: The Yankees announce that the third baseman will undergo surgery to repair his left hip. He is expected to return in 4-6 months, about midway through the 2013 season.
June 4, 2013: ESPN reports that MLB is looking to suspend about 20 players for their connection to the Florida-based Biogenesis clinic. Rodriguez is included on the list.
June 25: After tweeting that he is healthy enough to play, Yankees GM Brian Cashman says that the star "should the (expletive) up."
July 22: Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun receives a 65-game ban for his ties to the Biogenesis lab.
Aug. 5. MLB suspends Rodriguez 211 games. A-Rod appeals and plays Monday.
Aug. 13: Hits a home run against then-Boston Red Sox pitcher Ryan Dempster after plunking in wake of MLB announcement of record PED suspension.
Sept. 20: Sets a MLB-record with his 24th grand slam, breaking Lou Gehrigs' mark.
May 8, 2015: Hits his 661st home run off Baltimore Orioles pitcher Chris Tillman that pushes him ahead of Willie Mays on baseball’s all-time home run list.
June 19: Becomes 29th player in major-league history to reach 3,000 hits with a home run, the first since Jeter to get to the milestone in that fashion.
Aug. 7, 2016: Announces he is retiring on Aug. 12 after 22 major league seasons and four home runs shy of 700 career.
GALLERY: A-ROD THROUGH THE YEARS