Alex Rodriguez Says Daughter Natasha Is 'Just Like' Him: 'She's Very Routine Oriented' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

Alex Rodriguez and daughter Natasha.Photo: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

Alex Rodriguez’s daughter Natasha is his mini-me!In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE tied to his partnership withLysol, theformer New York Yankees player, 48, shares how his older daughterNatashais just like him.Noting that Natasha, 19, is “feeling more centered” as she nears the end of her freshman year of college, Rodriguez says, “She has a sense of friends and which bus to take, as well as her gym and which Starbucks [to go to].““So she’s very much like me. She’s very routine oriented,” he adds. “I feel like she’s in a good place right now.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Alex Rodriguez.Derek White/GettyNatasha is currently a student at the University of Michigan. Her famous fatherdropped her off for her first year of collegeback in August 2023.“Left my heart in Michigan 💙💛 Dropping off @thenatasharodriguez at college was one of the hardest, but most proud moments of being a father,” Rodriguez captioned aseries of photoswith Natasha from campus at the time.Now, as she nears the end of her first year as a college student, Rodriguez tells PEOPLE that Natasha has found her niche.“She’s in the musical theater program. … She’s doing fantastic, she’s really happy,” he says. “She’s really excited because [the play she’s in is] bilingual, and she gets to sing a little bit in English and Spanish.“Alex Rodriguez with daughters Natasha and Ella in 2015.Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/GettyStill, despite seeing his daughter thrive in her college environment as a young adult, Rodriguez says it has been ahard adjustment living without her.“I’ve had her home for 18 years, and we’re very close,” he explains. “The distance is hard because it’s from Miami to Michigan.““And I know she’s 19, but as a parent, you always feel like they’re your little babies, and you worry more, and you don’t have as much control,” he continues.“So it’s been hard, but I’m doing better lately,” adds Rodriguez, who also shares daughterElla, 15, with exCynthia Scurtis.With Natasha away at college and learning how to live on her own, Rodriguez tells PEOPLE he’s been able to teach his oldest child many things — includinghow to do her laundry— which is where his partnership with Lysol comes in.“Doing her laundry in the laundry room has been a little bit of a bonding thing for both of us,” theMLB on Foxco-host says.Rodriguez stars in a newcampaign videofor Lysol, titled “The Lost Bet,” in which he takes on a new role as an equipment manager and learns how to utilizeLysol Laundry Sanitizer(which kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria) to rid locker room clothes of their stinky smells.“I thought that was pretty cool, because playing for so many years, we can get pretty stinky,” the athlete says with a laugh. “The equipment managers are some of the most unsung heroes in an organization because they do all the dirty work — no pun intended.”

Alex Rodriguez’s daughter Natasha is his mini-me!

In an exclusive conversation with PEOPLE tied to his partnership withLysol, theformer New York Yankees player, 48, shares how his older daughterNatashais just like him.

Noting that Natasha, 19, is “feeling more centered” as she nears the end of her freshman year of college, Rodriguez says, “She has a sense of friends and which bus to take, as well as her gym and which Starbucks [to go to].”

“So she’s very much like me. She’s very routine oriented,” he adds. “I feel like she’s in a good place right now.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Alex Rodriguez.Derek White/Getty

Derek White/Getty

Natasha is currently a student at the University of Michigan. Her famous fatherdropped her off for her first year of collegeback in August 2023.

“Left my heart in Michigan 💙💛 Dropping off @thenatasharodriguez at college was one of the hardest, but most proud moments of being a father,” Rodriguez captioned aseries of photoswith Natasha from campus at the time.

Now, as she nears the end of her first year as a college student, Rodriguez tells PEOPLE that Natasha has found her niche.

“She’s in the musical theater program. … She’s doing fantastic, she’s really happy,” he says. “She’s really excited because [the play she’s in is] bilingual, and she gets to sing a little bit in English and Spanish.”

Alex Rodriguez with daughters Natasha and Ella in 2015.Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty

Rob Tringali/SportsChrome/Getty

Still, despite seeing his daughter thrive in her college environment as a young adult, Rodriguez says it has been ahard adjustment living without her.

“I’ve had her home for 18 years, and we’re very close,” he explains. “The distance is hard because it’s from Miami to Michigan.”

“And I know she’s 19, but as a parent, you always feel like they’re your little babies, and you worry more, and you don’t have as much control,” he continues.

“So it’s been hard, but I’m doing better lately,” adds Rodriguez, who also shares daughterElla, 15, with exCynthia Scurtis.

With Natasha away at college and learning how to live on her own, Rodriguez tells PEOPLE he’s been able to teach his oldest child many things — includinghow to do her laundry— which is where his partnership with Lysol comes in.

“Doing her laundry in the laundry room has been a little bit of a bonding thing for both of us,” theMLB on Foxco-host says.

Rodriguez stars in a newcampaign videofor Lysol, titled “The Lost Bet,” in which he takes on a new role as an equipment manager and learns how to utilizeLysol Laundry Sanitizer(which kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria) to rid locker room clothes of their stinky smells.

“I thought that was pretty cool, because playing for so many years, we can get pretty stinky,” the athlete says with a laugh. “The equipment managers are some of the most unsung heroes in an organization because they do all the dirty work — no pun intended.”

source: people.com