The New York Yankees are not too pleased with Alex Rodriguez, but their fans showed the veteran some love in their recent training session on Thursday.

Wallace Matthews of ESPN reported that fans cheered Rodriguez in his first appearance in a Yankees uniform after being sidelined for the past 18 months due to injury and suspension.

Rodriguez, who is coming off a one-year ban for his involvement in the biogenesis scandal, drew cheers from fans during their batting practice, and the 39-year-old was appreciative of the support that he got during the training session. Following the batting practice, Rodriguez said that he was glad he was able to do things he loves doing.

"It was pretty awesome," Rodriguez said via ESPN New York. "I think sometimes you can take for granted being a major league baseball player. Just being able to go out there and stuff that I did when I was 10 years old. At the very least, I hope I get to finish my career up really appreciating the game."

However, Rodriguez was not impressed with the way he performed against practice pitcher Danilo Valiente despite hitting three impressive swings during the session. The 20-year-veteran said that he still has a lot of things to work on if he wants to make an impact for the Yankees in the 2015 MLB season.

"I wish it was as easy as hitting Danilo's 55 mph fastball," Rodriguez added. "We can all look like an All-Star at that point. It doesn't mean anything. Let's see what happens when somebody is throwing 95."

While Rodriguez was disappointed with his performance against Valiente, Yankees manager Joe Girardi had some kind words for their former third baseman. Girardi said that Rodriguez reach expectation, and it is too early to judge if the 14-time All-Star will play regularly in the upcoming season.

"Pretty much what I expected," Girardi said of Rodriguez's performance. "I've said all along I don't think it's fair to judge him early, I really don't. When you've played as few games as he has the last two years, the speed of the game is what you have to get used to. So I don't think it's fair to judge."

Rodriguez, who only played in 44 games in 2013 and averaged .244 with just seven home runs, will not return as the Yankees' third baseman next season, and will likely be the team's designated hitter.

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