New York Yankees Legend Rodriguez Diagnosed With Early-Stage Gum Disease

A devastating diagnosis for this former New York Yankees' legend.

Alex Rodriguez has revealed that he has been diagnosed with early-stage gum disease.

"I just recently went to see my dentist and not thinking anything about any gum disease," Rodriguez said on CBS Mornings. "And the dentist tells me the news, and then I come to find out over 65 million Americans have this gum disease."

.@AROD dominated the baseball field for decades, but now he’s on a mission to raise awareness after revealing his diagnosis of early-stage gum disease: “It’s always better to be safe, go see your local dentist.” pic.twitter.com/4BZ4AZ8Tu4
— CBS Mornings (@CBSMornings) May 31, 2023

Rodriguez also emphasized the need to get checked by a dentist on a regular basis.

Rodriguez's periodontal disease is described by the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research as "an infection of the tissues that hold your teeth in place." The causes include poor brushing and flossing. According to available data, the NIH says 42.2 percent of Americans age 30 years or older have "total periodontitis."

Rodriguez had a 22 year career in Major League Baseball, where he played for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers and Yankees. He was a three-time American League MVP winner and 14-time All-Star.

The 47-year-old cracked 696 home runs during his playing career, which is the fifth-most in baseball history. His 117.5 WAR ranks 16th all-time.

Although Rodriguez was one of the best players of his generation, he has not come close to being voted into the Hall of Fame. That is because of his past involvement with using performance-enhancing drugs. He served a full-season suspension in 2014 for his involvement in the Biogenesis Scandal, and test positive for another banned substance in 2003.

In 2023, Rodriguez only received 35.7 percent of the Hall of Fame Vote, which is well below the 75 percent threshold needed to get into Cooperstown.