First baseman Anthony Rizzo is an integral part of the New York Yankees’ offensive lineup. Since joining the team in 2021, he has been the team’s top reliable hitter. This season, when the Bombers lost Aaron Judge to a hip injury in May, Rizzo single-handedly managed to keep the offense afloat till the captain returned in full health.
However, in the past few weeks, his form has taken a hit. Since Aaron Judge landed on IL for the second time this season due to a toe injury, Rizzo has failed to step up in his absence. His hitless streak touched a record high, and the strikeout rate, too, became a heavy problem. Now, to further add to the misery, Anthony Rizzo is facing a major injury scare.
Anthony Rizzo Gets Hit On Elbow By A Pitch, Leaves Game Midway
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo has witnessed a form slump since Aaron Judge’s toe injury. His average fell below .200, and for the longest time, he was unable to record a hit. Just when Rizzo was showing signs of resurgence, an unwanted injury scare raked the Yankees. The Bronx Bombers are currently on a road trip to the West, where they were scheduled to face Oakland Athletics in a three-game series. During the rubber game on Thursday, Rizzo was hit by a speedy pitch in the sixth inning. The pitch hit the back of his elbow, and it looked like a killer blow.
However, despite the hit, Anthony Rizzo continued to run the base. Later, the Yankees pulled him out in the next inning, and Billy McKinney replaced him for the rest of the game. Getting hit by pitches is nothing new for the baseman. In his illustrious career, he has been plunked 212 times, which is eighth highest in the whole league. However, this injury came at the worst possible time. At a time when Aaron Judge is absent from the lineup, Rizzo’s presence becomes highly crucial. Despite his struggles this season, Rizzo has the capability to turn things around in no time. For now, the medical team is treating it as a minor setback and will decide on the future course of action shortly.
Yankees Manager Updates On Anthony Rizzo’s Injury Scare
After the game, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone shared preliminarily updates on Anthony Rizzo’s apparent injury. He said that the baseman went through X-Ray scans which came back negative. Hence, for now, they are treating it as a day-to-day minor injury. Still, Rizzo’s participation in Friday’s game looks highly unlikely.
The Yankees would not want to risk their star and explosive baseman. Hence, Anthony Rizzo will mostly sit out for the next game. Playing in the absence of Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo would be a big challenge for the Yankees. The depth of the starry roster will be tested once again, and the players will need to step up and deliver strong performances in the duo’s absence. Tough times ahead for the Bronx bombers.