What a rejuvenated season it has been for Alex Rodriguez.

The New York Yankees are in first place in the American League East thanks to Rodriguez's incredibly surprising season. At the moment, Rodriguez has 24 home runs this season. That not only leads the Bronx Bombers in home runs, but is fifth most in the American League behind only Mike Trout, J.D. Martinez, Albert Pujols and Nelson Cruz. This comes as a huge surprise to many baseball fans because Rodriguez missed all of last season, and he is now 40 years old.

With his 678th career blast on Monday night (on his birthday) against the Texas Rangers, Rodriguez now has many wondering if he can overtake and eclipse Barry Bonds for first place. First, let's take a quick look at the top five highest home runs hitters of all-time.

1. Barry Bonds: 762

2. Hank Aaron: 755

3. Babe Ruth: 714

4. Alex Rodriguez: 678

5. Willie Mays: 660

Those are some big home run totals right there. Rodriguez is 37 home runs away from passing Yankees legend Babe Ruth, 78 away from surpassing Hammering Hank, and 85 away from breaking Barry Bonds' all-time record for long balls.

So, can Rodriguez do it?

Let's dig a little deeper into Rodriguez's chances. Rodriguez just turned 40 years old, but he is still on pace to hit about 15 more home runs this season. If Rodriguez continues the pace he is on and hits 15 more this season, that will give him 693 career home runs. That puts Rodriguez 21 away from Ruth.

Rodriguez currently has two more years remaining on his contract after this season. If he enters next season with 693 home runs that means he will be 62 home runs away from Aaron and 69 home runs away from Bonds. So, the question entering next season will be how home runs Rodriguez can hit in his (expected) final two seasons. For him to surpass Bonds he would more than likely have to average about 35 home runs per year. That's not an impossibility, but history is certainly not on Rodriguez's side. The most home runs hit in a season by a 40-year-old or over is held by Darrell Evans, who hit 34 in 1987 with the Detroit Tigers.

More than likely Rodriguez will pass Ruth, but the odds of him overtaking Aaron and Bonds are pretty slim. Missing all of last season because of suspension may be too big of a hit. If Rodriguez did play last season, and hit just 22 home runs the whole year, that means that he would presently be at 700 career homers. Only time will tell where Rodriguez finishes on the all-time home run list.

Where do you think Rodriguez will finish on the all-time home run list? Vote in our fan poll below.

Follow Damon Salvadore on Twitter @DamonSalvadore1