Yankees to donate $150,000 to charity for A-Rod's 3,000th hit ball

The New York Yankees will donate $150,000 to a charity supported by the man who caught Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th hit in exchange for him returning the ball to the team.

The New York Yankeeswill donate $150,000 to a charity supported by the man who caught Alex Rodriguez's 3,000th hit in exchange for him returning the ball to the team.

Zack Hample, who has caught thousands of balls at games and written a book about the practice, initially said he did not intend to give the ball back. He later softened his stance on the matter in an interview on SI Now.

Rodriguez's 3,000th hit was a solo home run off Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander last month.

Hample will return the ball at a press conference at Yankee Stadium on Friday, according to a statement released by the team. The charity Hample has supported since 2009 is Pitch In For Baseball, which donates equipment to kids who want to play the sport.

New York opens a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.

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