PHOTOS: 40-year-old A-Rod through the years

Happy 40th birthday Alex Rodriguez.

One of baseball's most polarizing figures, A-Rod has spent more than half of his life in the majors en route to becoming one of the sport's all-time best hitters.

Here's a look back at Rodriguez through the years:

Selected with the first pick of the 1993 draft by the Seattle Mariners, Rodriguez made his debut in 1994 as an 18-year-old.

Rodriguez made his third straight All-Star appearance in 1998, shown here with Sammy Sosa and Manny Ramirez.

After seven seasons with the Mariners, A-Rod signed a 10-year, $252-million deal with the Texas Rangers. It was the world's richest sports contract in history at the time.

Rodriguez and New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter share a laugh in 2001. The two would become teammates three years later.

Rodriguez poses with Yankees legend Reggie Jackson and Jeter during a press conference after New York acquired the 28-year-old from Texas in exchange for Alfonso Soriano and Joaquin Arias.

A-Rod looks on as Jeter makes one of the most famous catches in baseball history, crashing into the stands in 2004.

During the peak of the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry, Rodriguez and catcher Jason Varitek exchange pleasantries at Fenway Park. The fight ensued after A-Rod was hit by Boston Red Sox pitcher Bronson Arroyo in 2004.

Rodriguez and Arroyo were involved in another incident during the ALCS in 2004. A-Rod slapped the ball out of Arroyo's glove on a play at first and would be eventually ruled out.

Rodriguez runs up the first base line after he hit his 500th career home run at Yankee Stadium in 2007.

Fans in Toronto hold up photos of Madonna in 2008 after it was reported the pop star and A-Rod were having an affair.

Rodriguez reacts after the Yankees defeated the Philadelphia Phillies to win their 27th World Series in 2009.

The World Series win in 2009 is A-Rod's first and only.

Rodriguez makes a curtain call after he hit his 600th career home run in 2010. He is one of only eight players in history to reach the benchmark.

Despite his career numbers, A-Rod's legacy is tainted in the eyes of many for his use of performance-enhancing drugs. He was suspended for the entire 2014 season as a result.

A-Rod became the 29th player in history to record 3,000 hits after blasting his 667th home run June 19.