Anthony Rizzo’s Recovery and Role in Yankees’ Postseason

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Anthony Rizzo, a critical player for the New York Yankees, finds himself in a different role as the team competes in the postseason. Last year, Rizzo had rebounded from a challenging end to the regular season with a strong performance in the playoffs. This year, however, injuries have kept him off the field during the crucial games.

Rizzo ended the regular season on a high note, achieving a solid batting stretch, going 10-for-26 with a pair of doubles, four walks, and an OPS of .962 over eight games. Nevertheless, his momentum was halted due to two fractured fingers, affecting his ability to play in the postseason.

“I’m just watching and cheering,” Rizzo said, observing the Yankees’ journey to the American League Championship Series (ALCS). “It’s just a different mindset.” After testing his injured right hand, Rizzo and the team decided it was not feasible for him to play.

“It wasn’t realistic for me to play,” Rizzo admitted. “The diving play [Jon] Berti made [Monday], I would have been in trouble on that play. I’m not sure what would have happened to my hand there. I’m definitely not ready for that, and that’s my biggest worry.”

The ALCS is set to begin on Monday, and if the Yankees are still in contention, Rizzo plans to retest his hand to assess if his playing status might change. “There’s been a little progress with how it feels,” Rizzo reported, noting some improvement. “This has been a good week. We tested it out last week before this series and it didn’t go well, obviously. But we’ll keep moving forward with it and retest it. As long as it’s getting better, there’s hope.”

Rizzo’s absence is felt in the lineup, given his prior success against Kansas City’s pitching staff and his extensive postseason experience from his tenure with the Chicago Cubs. In his place, Jon Berti and Oswaldo Cabrera have been handling first base responsibilities.

“It’s a different mindset than I’m used to,” said Rizzo about his current role. “I’m trying to root everyone on and be a calming influence. It’s just about spending time with them and doing what I can to make things easier on them [at first].”

Despite not playing, Rizzo expressed his satisfaction with being part of the postseason. “It’s been very fun to be a part of,” he said, highlighting his supportive role within the team dynamics.