Alex Rodriguez on Fatherhood: "It's Truly Like Winning a World Championship Every Day" (EXCLUSIVE)
"They're the biggest joy of my life," MLB legend Alex Rodriguez affectionately shared with 'Distactify' about his two daughters, Natasha and Ella.
![Allison DeGrushe - Author](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/NH6Jy2EGT/200x200/allison-degrushe-headshot-1-1632780540988.jpg)
Published May 31 2024, 4:15 p.m. ET
![Alex Rodriguez poses in a Lysol bomber jacket for his Lysol Laundry Sanitizer campaign.](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/fM67XK1mX/480x251/alex-rodriguez-daughters-1-1717183929320.jpg 480w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/fM67XK1mX/640x335/alex-rodriguez-daughters-1-1717183929320.jpg 640w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/fM67XK1mX/768x402/alex-rodriguez-daughters-1-1717183929320.jpg 768w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/fM67XK1mX/1024x536/alex-rodriguez-daughters-1-1717183929320.jpg 1024w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/fM67XK1mX/1280x670/alex-rodriguez-daughters-1-1717183929320.jpg 1280w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/fM67XK1mX/1440x753/alex-rodriguez-daughters-1-1717183929320.jpg 1440w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/fM67XK1mX/1600x837/alex-rodriguez-daughters-1-1717183929320.jpg 1600w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/fM67XK1mX/2160x1130/alex-rodriguez-daughters-1-1717183929320.jpg 2160w)
Since retiring from professional baseball, Alex Rodriguez, better known as A-Rod, has had his hands full with various endeavors. Not only has he become a prominent sports analyst and commentator, but he's also expanded into business, media, and entertainment.
However, amid this whirlwind of remarkable opportunities, one role stands above all for the former New York Yankees third baseman: being a girl dad!
In a recent conversation with Distractify, Alex Rodriguez — who partnered with Lysol Laundry Sanitizer — shared insights into the sources of his greatest joy: His daughters!
Dive into our chat below to learn more about his thoughts on parenting teenagers and why being their dad feels akin to "winning a world championship every day."
A-Rod on his daughters: "They're the biggest joy of my life."
In the late '90s, A-Rod crossed paths with Cynthia Scurtis at a Miami gym. After several years of dating, they tied the knot in 2002. Just two years later, they welcomed their first child, Natasha Alexander, on Nov. 18, 2004. Cynthia gave birth to their second daughter, Ella Alexander, on April 21, 2008, in Miami.
The couple divorced in 2008 after six years of marriage — but they have since mastered the art of co-parenting! In fact, Alex fondly described Cynthia to Distractify as one of his "dearest friends in the world," praising her for being an "amazing woman" who's done a phenomenal job co-parenting their "two angels."
![Alex Rodriguez hugs his daughters Natasha and Ella after his last game New York Yankee player on Friday, Aug. 12, 2016.](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/Gojme62pf/480x252/alex-rodriguez-daughters-3-1717183934624.jpg 480w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/Gojme62pf/640x335/alex-rodriguez-daughters-3-1717183934624.jpg 640w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/Gojme62pf/768x402/alex-rodriguez-daughters-3-1717183934624.jpg 768w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/Gojme62pf/1024x536/alex-rodriguez-daughters-3-1717183934624.jpg 1024w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/Gojme62pf/1280x670/alex-rodriguez-daughters-3-1717183934624.jpg 1280w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/Gojme62pf/1440x754/alex-rodriguez-daughters-3-1717183934624.jpg 1440w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/Gojme62pf/1600x838/alex-rodriguez-daughters-3-1717183934624.jpg 1600w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/Gojme62pf/2160x1131/alex-rodriguez-daughters-3-1717183934624.jpg 2160w)
Speaking about their girls, Alex expressed that they are the "biggest joy of my life." He added, "Just watching them grow up as humble, grounded young ladies with self-esteem that look at adults in the eye and put the phone away and are grateful for everything they have, [is truly remarkable]."
"They understand dad's history, that I come from very humble beginnings," Alex explained before touching on the challenges of parenting in this day and age. "There's never been a more challenging time, in my opinion, to raise kids. I'm certainly glad that neither Natasha nor Ella had all of these crazy distractions. So to watch them in such a fast-moving world to still be grounded, and centered, and respectful, it's a joy to me."
A-Rod said seeing his daughters happy feels like "winning a world championship every day."
When asked about memorable moments with his daughters, Alex sweetly shared that every moment spent with them is special. The Hall of Famer emphasized the importance of genuine connection, telling Distractify that he and his daughters prioritize unplugging from electronics when they are together.
Alex also disclosed that 1-on-1 daddy-daughter time is crucial, especially as they hit their teenage years because, let's face it, as he aptly put it: "They certainly don't want to hang out with mom and dad ever."
"We have to dance around their schedule, which is kind of fun and funny at the same time," the three-time AL MVP elaborated. "And I think for me, watching one daughter [head] into college as a freshman is a proud moment [but also] a sad moment."
Alex further stated, "And then my little one Ella is a rising junior, so watching her develop is … it's truly like winning a world championship every day when you see them and you see them happy."
A-Rod joined forces with Lysol for a campaign celebrating equipment managers.
With baseball season in full swing, A-Rod and Lysol teamed up to honor the players with perhaps the hardest (and definitely the smelliest) job on the team: Equipment managers!
For the campaign kickoff, the 14-time MLB All-Star finds himself back in the locker room in a playful video titled "The Lost Bet." However, this time around, A-Rod is stepping into the space as an equipment manager.
Embracing his new role, the two-time Gold Glove winner discovers the secret to defeating post-game odors: Lysol Laundry Sanitizer, a laundry additive that's designed to eliminate 99.9 percent of odor-causing bacteria when added to your laundry routine!
When chatting about the campaign with Distractify, A-Rod told us he was "really excited" about the chance to recognize underappreciated champions like equipment managers.
He shared, "We had an opportunity to team up with Lysol to honor all the great work that the equipment managers do ... around the world. I was really excited because, for all my years, I knew how important they were to your team. They're the unsung heroes. And I was all for it. And it was a wonderful campaign, and I'm really happy about it."
![Alex Rodriguez poses in a locker room, wearing a blue and white tracksuit. Lysol Laundry Sanitizer sits in a laundry basket at his feet.](https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/ulH_gry3i/480x252/alex-rodriguez-daughters-4-1717185554928.jpg 480w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/ulH_gry3i/640x335/alex-rodriguez-daughters-4-1717185554928.jpg 640w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/ulH_gry3i/768x402/alex-rodriguez-daughters-4-1717185554928.jpg 768w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/ulH_gry3i/1024x536/alex-rodriguez-daughters-4-1717185554928.jpg 1024w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/ulH_gry3i/1280x670/alex-rodriguez-daughters-4-1717185554928.jpg 1280w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/ulH_gry3i/1440x754/alex-rodriguez-daughters-4-1717185554928.jpg 1440w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/ulH_gry3i/1600x838/alex-rodriguez-daughters-4-1717185554928.jpg 1600w, https://media.distractify.com/brand-img/ulH_gry3i/2160x1131/alex-rodriguez-daughters-4-1717185554928.jpg 2160w)
According to an official press release, Lysol is "pledging support as an official sponsor of the Athletic Equipment Managers Association (AEMA)." With this sponsorship, Lysol will provide Stink Steward Stipends for equipment managers nationwide to put toward their AEMA memberships and certifications to help propel their careers.