Major League Baseball

Alex Rodriguez: Baseball will be the No. 1 sport in '5-10 years'

Published Nov. 15, 2016 3:18 p.m. ET

Nunzio Ingrassia

Alex Rodriguez never misses a chance to express his passion for baseball. The New York Yankees slugger grew up playing the game he loves but has seen the sport lose its hold on the younger generation.

But despite the NFL and NBA’s growing popularity in the US, A-Rod is confident that the national pastime will one day regain its spot as the No. 1 sport.

"When I grew up, baseball was the No. 1 sport," Rodriguez said, via NJ.com. "I'm making a prediction that in the next 5-10 years we're going to become No. 1 again. I really feel that way. Already [MLB commissioner Rob Manfred] has made some incredible movement forward."

Baseball has a group of young talent that could captivate the younger generation. Players like Bryce Harper, Mike Trout and Carlos Correa are the next crop of superstars that Major League Baseball hopes can compete with the NFL and NBA’s young stars for fans’ attention.

When asked who is baseball’s version of LeBron James, A-Rod was at a loss.

"Look, I don't know that answer," Rodriguez said. "Our game has become a lot more regional, which financially is a plus, but as far as marketing, not so much. It's something we have to work towards. I think the collection of young players, from Bryce Harper, Andrew McCutchen, to Mike Trout, all of them together, can maybe make up LeBron. I can't just think of one guy."