After two-month recovery, Anthony Rizzo rejoins Yankees with confidence and joy

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After spending over two months on the injured list, Anthony Rizzo declared himself “100 percent ready to go” as he rejoined the New York Yankees lineup. Activated before Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Rizzo was placed in his usual position at first base and batted seventh. This marked his first Major League appearance since fracturing his right forearm in mid-June.

After long absence, Anthony Rizzo ‘felt great’ rejoining Yankees

“Thrilled to be back,” Anthony Rizzo said before the game, eager to contribute after a long absence. And he wasted no time making his presence felt, going 2-for-4 with two runs, two hits, and an RBI in his return to the lineup.

Reflecting on the team’s position, Anthony Rizzo added, “We’ve put ourselves in a strong position to win the division and set ourselves up nicely for the playoffs.’’ Despite the Yankees’ tough 14-7 loss, Rizzo’s performance was a bright spot in an otherwise challenging game.

Returning from a right forearm fracture that sidelined him for 62 games, Anthony Rizzo was just happy to be back on the field. “The rehab kind of went as planned. I feel strong, up to speed, and excited to be back,” he said.

Batting seventh against right-hander Miles Mikolas, Anthony Rizzo felt at home in the batter’s box. “It was just a lot of fun being out there, a lot of joy… and definitely just felt great to be back,” he added. His sharp defensive play, forcing an out at third base on an attempted sac bunt, showed he hadn’t lost his edge.

Manager Aaron Boone also saw positives in Anthony Rizzo’s return: “I thought the game moved slowly for him. Overall, it was a good day for him.”

The injury that sidetracked Anthony Rizzo’s season

Anthony Rizzo’s injury occurred on June 16, following a collision with Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino at first base while trying to beat out a ground ball at Fenway Park. At the time of the injury, Rizzo, 35, was enduring a challenging season, with a .223 batting average and a .630 OPS. Despite these struggles, Rizzo is optimistic that his return will provide a much-needed boost to a Yankees team that entered Sunday with a 1.5-game lead atop the American League East.

“This is what we play for,” Anthony Rizzo said, emphasizing the significance of his return. “Hopefully, it will just be a boost of energy. This team’s played really well, and we’ve put ourselves in a great position to go out and win the division and set ourselves up nicely for the playoffs.”

The Yankees have had difficulties finding consistent production at first base in Rizzo’s absence. Rookie Ben Rice, called up after Anthny Rizzo’s injury, managed a .174 average with seven home runs and a .624 OPS across 149 at-bats. After Saturday’s game, the Yankees sent the 25-year-old Rice back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Meanwhile, DJ LeMahieu, who filled in at first base, entered Sunday with a career-low .202 average and a career-worst .525 OPS.

Anthony Rizzo, a three-time All-Star, appeared in five games during his minor-league rehab assignment, recording two hits, including a home run, in 11 at-bats. Yankees manager Aaron Boone was optimistic about Rizzo’s return, saying, “I feel like [Rizzo is] in a really good mental place, and physically, I think, has been feeling really good for a few weeks now. Hopefully, he can come in and provide something for our lineup.”

This marks the second consecutive year that a collision at first base has sidelined Anthony Rizzo. In August 2023, he was shut down with post-concussion syndrome after a collision with the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. In the 169 at-bats between that incident and his diagnosis, Rizzo batted .172 with just one home run.

Despite these challenges, Boone remains confident in Anthony Rizzo’s ability to contribute to a lineup that also features left-handed hitters like Juan Soto, Austin Wells, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. “I still think it’s in there for him to be productive,” Boone said. “I feel like he’s walking in here with some confidence. He has an amazing track record and is a proven money player, especially this time of year.”

Anthony Rizzo acknowledged that his recovery felt long but was pleased with how it went, stating that he’s back to full strength. “The expectation is just to take it one day at a time, one at-bat at a time, one inning at a time in the field, but I fully expect to come out and just be myself,” Rizzo said. “That’s the goal: Just be myself.”

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