The New York Yankees have experienced a significant offensive slump, struggling to generate runs and consistent production at the plate. The Bombers probably saw it coming, though, when its captain, Aaron Judge, landed on IL. The Yankees have been overly dependent on the slugger for a while now. Even when Judge missed out a few days in May, the team witnessed a similar downfall.
However, one man stepped up to keep the Yankee’s offensive boat afloat. Aaron Judge‘s best pal and the team’s explosive baseman, Anthony Rizzo, was a star during the captain’s absence in the month of May. Hence, when injury woes hit for the second time, the fans expected Rizzo to step up once again. However, this time, even the team’s best man fell victim to the slump.
Anthony Rizzo’s Hitless At-Bats Earned Him An Unwanted Record
The ongoing offensive slump of the New York Yankees did not even spare first baseman Anthony Rizzo. So far in the season, the baseman has been growing strong by hitting .269 with 11 home runs and 60 RBIs. He remained the only Yankee batter who managed to stay consistent throughout the season. However, the recent slump has got the better of him. Since the past few weeks, especially after Aaron Judge’s injury, Rizzo has looked out of touch. He again went hitless in Sunday’s rubber game against the Red Sox, which apparently earned him an unwanted record.
After Sunday, Anthony Rizzo’s hitless streak extended to 24 at-bats, which is the longest of his long-storied career. ESPN Stats & Info pointed out these stats and left the fans in dismay. Rizzo, who had an electric start to the 2023 season, has failed to connect a hit in his past 24 at-bats, which is alarming for the Yankees, especially at a time when their top batter, Aaron Judge, is on IL due to a toe injury. It’s also worth noting that the baseman missed a few games weeks ago due to a neck injury. Since then, his form has been on the downward trend. Regardless, a veteran player like Anthony Rizzo must know how to overcome these slumps to help the team in need.
Yankees Manager Expects Anthony Rizzo To Come Around Soon
Yankees’ star baseman, Anthony Rizzo, is having a tough time on the plate. He is neither scoring nor contributing in any other form. Hence, there has been growing concern among fans and analysts alike about his future in the season. While the whole baseball world is concerned, the Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, feels it’s not an issue to stress over.
While addressing a post-game press conference, Aaron Boone said Anthony Rizzo has been working hard in batting practices for a while. Moreover, the manager claimed that the baseman’s continuous grind would hopefully bear fruits on Tuesday against the city rivals, the Mets. Well, let’s hope the skipper’s words come true somehow because, with Aaron Judge out, the last thing the Yankees want is for their star baseman to go out of form.
