Rizzo (back) is back in the Yankees' Grapefruit League lineup Tuesday versus the Blue Jays, Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
Rizzo had to be scratched from Sunday's lineup with a back issue, but he took batting practice Monday and is at first base and hitting third Tuesday. The veteran's back has given his problems off and on the last few years and will likely require maintenance days in 2023, but it's not much of a concern right now.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Takes batting practice Monday
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Rizzo (back) took batting practice Monday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Rizzo has been down for a couple days due to a back injury that has given him trouble off and on for a few years now. He's expected to be fine, though, and could return to Grapefruit League action as soon as Tuesday.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Scratched with back issue
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Manager Aaron Boone said Rizzo was scratched from Sunday's Grapefruit League lineup due to a "cranky back," Erik Boland of Newsday reports.
The 33-year-old managed back stiffness throughout the 2022 campaign, and it appears he'll battle the issue again this season. Boone doesn't believe the flare-up is serious this time around, and Rizzo could be back in the lineup Tuesday. However, it's worth keeping an eye on Rizzo as the rest of camp progresses, as the injury seems likely to linger given his past issues in the area.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Expects to manage back issues
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Rizzo said Monday that the back stiffness that hampered him throughout last season is no longer bothering him, though he added that he expects to have to manage it during the coming campaign, Brendan Kuty of The Athletic reports.
Rizzo's back issues caused him to miss time in each of the final three months of the regular season last year, though that didn't keep the Yankees from re-signing him to a two-year, $34 million contract in November. The veteran first baseman acknowledged Monday the likelihood of the issue rearing its head again, saying, "I think I'd be crazy to sit here and say I won't have any back issues here." Rizzo added that he used the offseason to focus on helping his back recover and that he's confident that the area can be managed with daily preparation. Yankees manager Aaron Boone voiced the same opinion, stating, "[I]t's really important that he stays on top of his daily routine -- his tedious exercise routine, tedious exercises from a core standpoint that put him in the best position to navigate [the back issue]."
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Back with Yankees
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Rizzo agreed Tuesday with the Yankees on a two-year, $34 million contract that includes a $17 million club option for 2025, Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic reports.
The Yankees will bring at least one of their free-agent sluggers back after Rizzo rejected the team's qualifying offer. Rizzo's left-handed power is a great fit in Yankee Stadium and in New York's righty-heavy lineup. The 33-year-old first baseman hit .224/.338/.480 with 32 home runs and six steals in 130 games this past season.
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Anthony Rizzo: Becomes free agent
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Rizzo has opted out of his 2023 contract with the Yankees and has become a free agent, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Rizzo's contract included a $16 million player option for the 2023 campaign, but he's elected to decline that option and test the waters in free agency. He slashed .224/.338/.480 with 32 homers, 75 RBI, six stolen bases and 77 runs scored through 130 games in 2022 with the Yankees.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Strong effort in loss
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Rizzo went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI and a run scored and was hit by a pitch in Sunday's 6-5 loss to the Astros during Game 4 of the ALCS.
Rizzo reached base on his first three at-bats Sunday night, getting hit by a pitch in the first inning, hitting an RBI double in the second and tying the game with an RBI single in the fourth. The 33-year-old bounced back after two hitless performances, recording his eighth RBI of the postseason, but his efforts were not enough as the Astros escaped with a one-run victory to close out the ALCS. Rizzo finished the 2022 postseason hitting .276 with two homers and eight RBI.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Late homer in Game 1
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Rizzo went 1-for-2 with a solo home run, one walk and a hit-by-pitch during the 4-2 loss to the Astros in Game 1 of the ALCS.
Rizzo hit a fastball from Rafael Montero 387 feet to right field in the top of the eighth inning, but the Yankees were unable to complete the comeback in Game 1. The 33-year-old first baseman has continued to do a solid job of reaching base during the postseason. He is now 6-for-19 with four walks and two HBP, which has helped accumulate a .480 OBP. On the surface, Rizzo has a tough matchup against southpaw Framber Valdez in Game 2, but he actually achieved better numbers across the board versus lefty pitching than righty pitching in the last two seasons.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Not starting Game 2
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Rizzo is out of the lineup for Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader against the Rangers.
Rizzo went 0-for-3 during Game 1 and will take a seat for the nightcap. DJ LeMahieu will move to first base while Oswaldo Cabrera covers the keystone for New York.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: On bench Monday
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Rizzo isn't starting Monday against the Rangers.
Rizzo is getting a day off after he went 2-for-12 with two runs and four strikeouts over the last three games. DJ LeMahieu will take over at first base and bat fifth.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Takes seat Wednesday
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Rizzo isn't in the lineup Wednesday against Toronto.
Rizzo was productive over the first two games of the series in Toronto, going 4-for-8 with a double and an RBI. He'll get a breather for the series finale while Marwin Gonzalez starts at first base and bats sixth.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Slugs game-winning homer
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Rizzo went 1-for-3 with a two-run home run and a walk in a 7-5 victory over the Red Sox on Saturday.
Rizzo broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh inning by taking John Schreiber deep to right center for his 32nd home run of the season. Rizzo has now tied his career-high total. He has previously reached the 32-HR mark on three separate occasions in 2014, 2016 and 2017. Rizzo appears on the brink of setting a new career-high home run total in what remains of the season.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Sitting versus lefty
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Rizzo isn't in the lineup for Friday's game against Boston.
Rizzo holds a .895 OPS against left-handed pitching this season, but he will sit out the start of Friday's game with Rich Hill on the mound for the Red Sox. Marwin Gonzalez will take his spot at first base and bat eighth.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Tallies three hits in return
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Rizzo went 3-for-6 with a solo homer and two total runs during Sunday's 12-8 win over the Brewers.
Rizzo returned from the injured list for Sunday's series finale against Milwaukee after missing 17 days due to a head injury. He didn't miss a beat in his return to the lineup, and he's now hit .324 with three homers, seven runs and four RBI over his last 10 games.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Activated, hitting second Sunday
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Rizzo (head) was activated from the 10-day injured list and is hitting second Sunday against the Brewers, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Rizzo missed 17 days with a head injury and will return Sunday as anticipated. On the season, he is hitting .225 with 30 home runs, 71 runs, 71 RBI and six steals in 117 games.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Could return Sunday
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Rizzo (head) participated in live batting practice Friday, Pete Caldera of The Bergen Record reports.
Rizzo "looked good" according to Scott Effross, who threw against Rizzo as part of his own rehab from a shoulder injury. The Yankees are hoping to activate Rizzo on Sunday ahead of their final game in Milwaukee.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Out until at least Friday
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Rizzo (head) will not play until this weekend in Milwaukee at the earliest, Brendan Kuty of The Newark Star-Ledger reports.
Rizzo said Tuesday that he is targeting a return either this weekend in Milwaukee or next week at home for the Pirates. A few days ago it was reported that Rizzo is no longer experiencing headaches. Marwin Gonzalez has been starting at first base lately.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: No longer experiencing headaches
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Rizzo (head) received a blood patch Friday, which has helped alleviate his migraines, Bryan Hoch of MLB.com reports.
Rizzo received an epidural injection last week to address lower-back pain, and he was experiencing headaches in recent days. The 33-year-old rejoined the Yankees on Saturday and is expected to ramp up baseball activities. Manager Aaron Boone said Saturday that he hopes Rizzo will be able to return prior to the end of the Yankees' upcoming road trip.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Could start ramping back up
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Rizzo (head) will attempt to resume baseball activities soon and could start ramping back up if his headaches are gone, per MLB.com.
Rizzo has been dealing with migraines since receiving an epidural injection last week to alleviate the pain in his lower back. He was directed by doctors to rest for 48 hours before attempting to resume activities, and he's scheduled to start "moving around" Friday. If that goes well and the headaches have subsided, Rizzo could be on track to return when eligible next week.
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Yankees' Anthony Rizzo: Headaches require additional tests
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Rizzo, who was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday, is dealing with headaches that will require additional testing, Meredith Marakovits of YES Network reports. The team believes the epidural improved Rizzo's back issue.
He had been out with a back issue and was trending toward returning to the lineup soon, but these headaches will be what delays his return. Rizzo's timeline and status could become more clear following the additional tests. Ronald Guzman was promoted to offer first base depth in the short term.
