Shortly before his first game of spring training, Anthony Rizzo could be seen smiling in the Yankees’ clubhouse at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
His name had just been posted in a lineup for the first time since Aug. 1 of last season, when previously undiagnosed post-concussion symptoms ended his campaign after a miserable two-month stretch. Even though Rizzo was a veteran preparing for his 14th major league season, he found himself eager to play in an exhibition game months after overcoming a scary collision with the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. last May.
“I’m just excited for the progression of spring,” Rizzo said before going on to hit .389 over 15 Grapefruit League games.
Unfortunately for the Yankees and Rizzo, the first baseman’s production has not carried into the regular season despite his insistence that he’s healthy.
Tuesday’s 4-3 loss to the Angels marked another poor performance, as Rizzo went 0-for-4 at the plate and couldn’t corral a Luis Rengifo grounder in the eighth inning.
Rizzo, holding a runner on, knocked the ball down on a lunge and was initially charged with an error. While the play was later changed to a hit, it paved the way for a two-run double from Taylor Ward, who gave the Angels the lead with his liner off of Clay Holmes.
“To the standard that I hold myself to, I just need to be better,” Rizzo said afterward, per the YES Network. “I need to make that play. That one stings.”
This was Anthony Rizzo’s fourth error in 55 games this season, tied for the most among #MLB first basem*n. Last season, Rizzo made four errors in 92 games.
pic.twitter.com/8KL8LokQQn— Bronx Bombers News (@NewsBronx) May 29, 2024
Rizzo also made a blunder in Sunday’s loss to the Padres when Ha-Seong Kim pushed a bunt toward him. Rizzo had time to make a play at the plate, but he couldn’t handle the ball as the Padres took a 2-1 lead.
Like Tuesday’s play, that was changed from an error to a hit.
Errors or not, Rizzo’s defense has not lived up to his reputation as a four-time Gold Glover.
As of Wednesday, when he was penciled into the No. 7 spot in the order, he had actually been charged with three errors which tied for the second most among first basem*n. He had also totaled zero Outs Above Average after tallying seven over just 99 games last year.
Rizzo’s Fielding Run Value (0) and Defensive Runs Saved (-1) have also gone down.
“The first couple weeks were pretty brutal, but overall, the last probably five or six weeks were, I’d say, pretty normal,” Rizzo said. “But a play like today; just gotta make it.”
Rizzo’s offense hasn’t been particularly potent, either.
The 34-year-old entered Wednesday’s game with a .245/.310/.370 slash line, seven home runs, 25 RBI and a wRC+ of 99. One-hundred is considered league-average.
While not terrible, Rizzo has hit just .213/.292/.305 since May 28 of last year, which is when he collided with Tatis Jr. His 74 wRC+ is the 12th-worst in baseball and second-worst among first baseman with a minimum of 400 plate appearances over that span.
Because Rizzo has said that he’s healthy, and because the Yankees don’t have many alternative options at first, the lefty swinger likely still has plenty of time to figure things out as he plays through a potential platform season. The Yankees have a $17 million club option on Rizzo, and it’s attached to a $6 million buyout.
For now, the Yankees are in a fortunate position, as their offense has succeeded without Rizzo at his best. They also just got DJ LeMahieu back from the injured list, giving them an experienced backup first baseman for the first time this season.
While LeMahieu is expected to mostly play third, don’t be surprised if he spells Rizzo from time to time, especially if the latter’s performance continues to fall short of expectations.
DOMÍNGUEZ RETURNS TO THE OF
Jasson Domínguez made his return to the outfield on Wednesday, playing five innings in center field for the Double-A Somerset Patriots. The Martian had not played the field since Sept. 9 of last year while in the majors with the Yankees.
Domínguez (UCL surgery) is currently on a rehab assignment, which began on May 14. The 21-year-old started it only DH-ing.
Based on the Yankees’ current outfield configuration, Domínguez will likely stay in the minors once his assignment is over, presumably at Triple-A.
SMITH CHANGES HIS MIND
To make roster space for LeMahieu on Tuesday, the Yankees said that infielder Kevin Smith elected free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment to the minor leagues.
On Wednesday, the Yankees announced that the East Greenbush, N.Y., native changed his mind and accepted the assignment. He will go to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after a brief stint on the major league roster.
