"Surprised'' to be included at Yankees' Old-Timers' Day, Alex Rodriguez remains outside Monument Park

NEW YORK – Jazz Chisholm Jr. currently wears Alex Rodriguez’s old pinstriped No. 13 – as did Joey Gallo before him – so eventually retiring A-Rod’s number seems a stretch.

But what about eventually having a plaque in Monument Park?

“Yeah, I’ve thought about it,’’ A-Rod said Saturday, making his first appearance at a Yankees Old-Timers’ Day. “I would love to be in, but that’s not my decision.

"I honor everything about the New York Yankees , and it would be an honor'' to be included.

A-Rod received a hearty ovation upon his introduction at Yankee Stadium, celebrating the 15 ^th anniversary of the Yankees’ 2009 world championship team.

Arriving back from hip surgery in early May of that season, A-Rod played a huge role in postseason – with CC Sabathia saying that Rodriguez should have shared his 2009 ALCS MVP.

But A-Rod’s various on and off-field controversies, culminating in his 2014 MLB suspension for performance-enhancing drugs and his scorched earth defense – including suing the club’s physician and slamming various team personnel – came with his all-world talent and box office appeal.

“I was actually surprised that I got an invitation,’’ A-Rod said of being asked to attend, putting on his old Yankees jersey for the first time since his 2016 retirement.

“He wears it at home all the time,’’ cracked Derek Jeter.

Rodriguez, 49, has been back at the Stadium numerous times as a baseball TV analyst, but “just being back in the fold with the uniform on is pretty unique,’’ he said.

“It’s a great thrill – it felt like we were just here in ’09,’’ said A-Rod, adding he had “a nice conversation’’ with GM Brian Cashman Saturday. “Very proud of my time in New York and very proud of being part of a championship team.’’

Hideki Matsui came away as the 2009 World Series MVP, but said through an interpreter, “I can honestly say that without (A-Rod) we wouldn’t be able to win the World Series, for sure.’’

Asked about including A-Rod in Monument Park, ex-teammates like CC Sabathia and Jorge Posada politely referred the question to management.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said “he’s been a great Yankee. I think that’s a reasonable request.’’

It was Boone’s offseason basketball injury in the winter of 2003 that ushered the Yankees’ trade for A-Rod, changing history.

“I’m more of a H-O-R-S-E player now,’’ said Boone.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: "Surprised'' to be included at Yankees' Old-Timers' Day, Alex Rodriguez remains outside Monument Park