The New York Yankees have Anthony Rizzo again on the Injured List. They want to avoid one thing and one thing only: injury issues. Last year, their campaign got derailed as there were just too many injuries to deal with for them. It is not just about the numbers but also who is getting on the IL. Last year saw several key players like Aaron Judge, Jasson Dominguez, and the first baseman getting on the list. When these key sluggers are not able to stay healthy throughout the season, their offense automatically got weaker.
Eventually, the Yankees had their worst season in the last 30 years. That’s what they don’t want to repeat this year. First of all, this season, the NY side started the campaign brilliantly. They became the first team in 2024 to win 50 games. But then, injury issues to key players dampened the mood in the dugout. The Bronx Bombers lost the three-game series against the Boston Red Sox. On Sunday, their first baseman injured his right arm. Now, the NY side is looking to replace Rizzo with someone else at first base.
Who Can Replace Anthony Rizzo At First Base?
The first choice for the Yankees is DJ LeMahieu. It might not impress the fans, but the veteran infielder can change his role from third to first baseman. Then, Oswaldo Cabrera can return as a third baseman again. He was doing a great job in the absence of DJ LeMahieu since the start of the 2024 regular season. Moreover, Jon Berti was another option who could play third baseman. But he is on the Injured List as well. Berti is recovering from a calf strain. There is another infielder whom the Yankees can use to fill in Rizzo’s spot: Oswald Peraza. Since the start of the year, he has been on the IL with a shoulder strain.
However, on Monday, Peraza posted on Instagram that he is in New York. There is a good chance that Peraza can have a locker on Tuesday. But the problem with both DJ LeMahieu and Oswald Peraza is that they have not impressed the team and the fans with their hitting lately. Peraza was in Triple-A, but he didn’t have a great run. In 24 games, the infielder has hit .169 with an OPS of .528. On the other hand, the oldest Yankee on their current roster, DJ, since his return from IL, has hit .188 in 15 games with a .492 OPS. Hence, the whole situation is a bit of a major concern for Aaron Boone and the Yankees organization.
What Are The Other Options For The Yankees?
The No. 12 prospect of the Yankees, as per MLB Pipeline, Ben Rice is the most deserving of a promotion from Triple-A. He had been raking with Double-A Somerset. Recently, Rice got a call-up for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. In 11 games with RailRiders, Rice has hit three homers, three doubles and 10 RBIs since he arrived in Triple-A. Besides Rice, there is TJ Rumfield in Triple-A, who has been doing well, too.
Baseball America ranks Rumfield as the No. 25 prospect for the Yankees. In 47 games, he has hit .303 with five homers and a .812 OPS with 32 RBIs. However, if Aaron Boone doesn’t like these options, the Yankees will have to make a trade as soon as possible, as per NJ Advance Media.
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