Growing up in Miami, Florida, baseball icon Alex Rodriguez became a diehard fan of everything related to the University of Miami. Despite never attending school there, he has remained a vital part of the UM community. 

On Thursday, Rodriguez served as the fall commencement speaker at the Wasco Center. He addressed the 600 graduates in attendance, sharing life lessons learned from a career in the spotlight. 

Rodriguez used the backdrop of baseball to explain success and failure. In 2002, he gave money to the university to establish a scholarship in his name for a Boys and Girls Clubs of America member. 

Rodriguez's 696 career home runs rank fourth in baseball history. He had a 22-year career, was named to 14 All-Star teams and won the Silver Slugger Award ten times. 

On three occasions, Rodriguez won the American League Most Valuable Player award. He achieved the pinnacle of his career in 2009 when he won a World Series with the New York Yankees and was named MVP of the postseason. 

The Seattle Mariners originally selected Rodriguez out of high school with the top pick in the 1993 MLB Draft. He retired from baseball after the 2016 season and is now a popular baseball commentator for Fox. 

To inquire about Alex Rodriguez's speaking fee and appearance cost, contact the agents at Athlete Speakers by calling us at 800-916-6008 or by Starting Your Booking Request Now.

ABC News Interview with Alex Rodriguez: