A-Rod: Starts Rehab Early

After the hip surgery that took place yesterday morning, Alex Rodriguez has already been released from the hospital and will begin his rehabilitation process earlier than expected.

The operation went so well that Rodriguez was slated yesterday afternoon to be discharged from Vail Valley Surgery Center and begin a rehabilitation program that included range-of-motion exercises and riding a stationary bicycle. In the coming days, Rodriguez will continue with range-of-motion exercises and isometric exercises with small resistance.

The news is better than expected concerning further surgery that Rodriguez will need after the season, when a larger impingement will be fixed. Initially, it was believed that because of that impending surgery, Rodriguez wouldn't be ready for the start of spring training in 2010. Now, because of yesterday's procedure, Phillipon said Rodriguez could require less than the six to nine weeks it is going to take to recover from the initial operation.

This is great news for the Yankees, and Yankees fans (not so much for Cody Ransom). Rodriguez should hit his mark of being able to return at some point in May. All signs are pointing to the right decision being made on how to handle the slugger's hip injury.