The unfortunate news of Anthony Rizzo’s injury has sent ripples through the New York Yankees organization. Rizzo is expected to miss four to six weeks after tests revealed a fracture to the radial neck of his right arm. The injury occurred during a collision with Boston Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino while running out a ground ball. Although the injury will not require surgery, Rizzo will need time to recover and heal.
Anthony Rizzo, at 34 years old, has been experiencing a challenging season with the Yankees, posting his worst numbers as a big leaguer. Despite his struggles, Rizzo had started to show signs of improvement during the Yankees’ recent road trip, with 4 hits, 4 walks, and a home run in the four games leading up to the injury. His absence will undoubtedly be felt in the lineup, as he had been coming up with crucial hits and contributing to the team’s success.
Without Rizzo, the Yankees will need to make adjustments to their lineup and defensive alignment. One option is to move DJ LeMahieu from third base to first, with Oswaldo Cabrera taking over at third base. Cabrera had been the primary third baseman at the beginning of the season before LeMahieu’s return from the injured list. Another possible replacement for Rizzo on the active roster is infielder Oswald Peraza, who has struggled in the minor leagues but has major league experience from the past two seasons.
In addition to Cabrera and Peraza, the Yankees have other potential replacements for Anthony Rizzo. Ben Rice and TJ Rumfield have both had strong performances in the upper minors this season. Rice, who has split time between catcher and first base, has an impressive .275 batting average with 15 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. Rumfield, a first baseman, has a solid slash line of .305/.370/.441 with five home runs in 55 games across the two levels. The Yankees will have to consider their options and make decisions on who will best fill Rizzo’s shoes during his absence.
The news of Anthony Rizzo’s injury has created a significant challenge for the New York Yankees. His absence will be felt both on the field and in the lineup, as the team looks to adjust and find suitable replacements. The coming weeks will be crucial for the Yankees as they navigate through this setback and work towards maintaining their position in the competitive American League.