Anthony Rizzo, the New York Yankees’ first baseman, fractured two fingers in his right hand after being hit by a pitch during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The injury occurred in the seventh inning when Rizzo faced an 88 mph slider from left-hander Ryan Borucki.
Following the hit, he immediately expressed pain and was attended to by a trainer but initially stayed in the game to run. However, he did not return to the field for the eighth inning, raising concerns about his health just one week before the Yankees are set to begin the postseason.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone spoke to the media following the game and indicated that Rizzo’s status for the playoffs was uncertain. While he acknowledged the injury could impact Rizzo’s ability to play, he also mentioned it was primarily a matter of pain tolerance.
Boone emphasized that the team’s medical staff would evaluate Rizzo’s condition in the coming days, and he didn’t rule out the possibility of Rizzo participating in the playoffs, depending on how the situation develops.
This season has been particularly challenging for Rizzo, marking the worst offensive performance of his 14-year career. With the Yankees’ regular season finale approaching, Rizzo’s batting average stands at a disappointing .228, along with career lows in on-base percentage (.301), slugging percentage (.335), and home runs (8) over the course of 92 games. Earlier this season, Rizzo had to miss over two months due to a fractured right forearm, which he suffered in a collision at first base against the Boston Red Sox.
In response to Rizzo’s injury, the Yankees previously called up Ben Rice, a catcher with limited experience at first base, to fill in during Rizzo’s absence earlier in the season. Following Rizzo’s latest injury, Boone suggested that Rice could be a viable option for the postseason lineup if Rizzo cannot play. Rice made a strong impression during his first 17 games but struggled afterward, leading to his reassignment to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, where he found more success.
Another potential replacement for Rizzo is utility man Oswaldo Cabrera, who has made five starts at first base this season and has a batting average of .247 with a .661 OPS. He replaced Rizzo at first for the last two innings of Saturday’s game.
The Yankees are now in a position where they must decide between Cabrera and Rice to step in for Rizzo, depending on the latter’s recovery and ability to tolerate the pain from his injury. Boone reiterated that Rizzo’s condition is closely tied to his pain management rather than risking further injury.
