Anthony Rizzo, First Base, New York Yankees

Date of Birth: 8/8/1989
Birthplace: Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Anthony Rizzo, first baseman for the New York Yankees, was first drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2007. He spent his time with the Red Sox in the minor leagues and in December, 2010, they traded him to the San Diego Padres.

Rizzo made his first major league appearance with the Padres in 2011, playing in 49 games with them that season. In January, 2012, Rizzo was traded again, this time to the Chicago Cubs. He played in 87 games with the Cubs in 2012.

On May 12, 2013, the Cubs and Rizzo agreed to a 7-year, $41 million contract that includes a two year club option. In 2013, Rizzo batted .233 with 141 hits, 40 doubles, 23 home runs, and 80 RBIs in 160 games. He finished the 2014 season with 150 hits, 28 doubles, 32 home runs, 78 RBIs, and a .286 batting average in 140 games.

Rizzo had a good 2015 season, finishing with career highs in hits (163), doubles (38), stolen bases (17), and RBIs (101). He had a .278 batting average and 31 home runs in 160 games. As the Cubs' first baseman, he made 126 assists, 102 double plays, 1,330 putouts, and 9 errors in 160 games. In 32 at-bats in 9 postseason games, he batted .188 with 6 hits, including 2 home runs, and 2 RBIs.

Rizzo had his best season so far in 2016, playing in 155 games. He had career highs in hits (170), doubles (43), home runs (32), RBIs (109), and batting average (.292). Defensively, as the Cubs' first baseman in 154 games, he made 125 assists, 98 double plays, 1,268 putouts, and 6 errors. Those numbers along with a .996 fielding percentage earned him his first Gold Glove. In the postseason, he batted .277 with 18 hits, including 5 doubles and 3 home runs, and 10 RBIs in 65 at-bats in 17 games.

Rizzo won his first Silver Slugger award in 2016. He also won the Rawlings Platinum Glove as the best defensive player in the National League.

Rizzo had another good season in 2017, batting .273 in 157 games. He finished the season with 156 hits, 32 doubles, 32 home runs, and 109 RBIs. He walked 91 times and struck out 90 times. Defensively, as the Cubs' first baseman in 157 games, he made 150 assists, 112 double plays, 1,222 putouts, and 3 errors. In the postseason, he had 5 hits, including a home run, and 6 RBIs in 37 at-bats in 10 games.

Rizzo finished the 2018 season with 160 hits, 29 doubles, 25 home runs, 101 RBIs, 80 strikeouts to 70 walks, and a .283 batting average. In the postseason, he had one hit in four at-bats.

Rizzo won his second Gold Glove in 2018. As the Cubs' first baseman in 153 games, he made 147 assists, 128 double plays, 1,133 putouts, and 7 errors for a .995 fielding percentage.

Rizzo finished the 2019 season with 150 hits, 29 doubles, 27 home runs, 94 RBIs, 86 strikeouts to 71 walks, and a .293 batting average in 146 games. He won his third Gold Glove as a first baseman. In 146 games, he made 123 assists, 120 double plays, 1,140 putouts, and 5 errors, and he had a .996 fielding percentage.

Rizzo played in 58 games in 2020. He finished the season with 45 hits, 6 doubles, 11 home runs, 24 RBIs, 38 strikeouts to 28 walks, and a .222 batting average. Defensively, he played 57 games at first base. He won his fourth Gold Glove in 2020. In the postseason, he had no hits in 8 at-bats in 2 games.

The Cubs traded Rizzo to the Yankees on July 29, 2021. He finished the 2021 season with 123 hits, 23 doubles, 22 home runs, 61 RBIs, 87 strikeouts to 52 walks, and a .248 batting average in 92 games with the Cubs and 49 games with the Yankees. Defensively, as a first baseman in 139 games, he made 118 assists, 98 double plays, 968 putouts, and 6 errors. In the postseason, he had one hit, a home run, in four at-bats in one game.

Rizzo became a free agent on November 3, 2021. He signed with the Yankees on March 17, 2022.

Career batting statistics for Rizzo through 2021 include:

• 1,406 games played
• 1,372 hits
• 291 doubles
• 251 home runs
• 814 RBIs
• 945 strikeouts to 661 walks
• .268 batting average

Career fielding statistics for Rizzo at first base through 2021 include:

• 1,395 games played
• 1,172 assists
• 1,019 double plays
• 10,951 putouts
• 57 errors
• .995 fielding percentage

Personal Life

In May, 2008, Rizzo was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He was successfully treated.

Sources for Information
Wikipedia - Anthony Rizzo
ESPN - Anthony Rizzo