A former Red Sox prospect, Anthony Rizzo returned to the home of his first Double-A team on Friday night.
Now a Yankee, the first baseman joined the Somerset Patriots for a trip to Maine to play the Portland Sea Dogs, Boston’s affiliate. Rizzo, out since June 18 with a fractured right forearm, was scheduled to begin a rehab assignment.
Prior to doing so, Aaron Boone said the plan was for Rizzo to only DH through next Wednesday. Rizzo will return to Yankee Stadium on Thursday, at which point the Yankees will talk about him starting to play first next weekend.
“That seems like a long way away right now,” Boone said before the Yanks started a series against the Rockies.
Boone previously said that a recent scan revealed Rizzo’s arm had shown improved healing, but it still had “some more to go,” so the Yankees are being cautious with the 35-year-old.
Rizzo broke his arm when he ran into Boston reliever Brennan Bernardino on June 16. It marked the second year in a row that a collision derailed his season, as Rizzo suffered from concussion symptoms after San Diego’s Fernando Tatis Jr. bumped into him on a pickoff play in late May of 2023.
A potential free agent after the season, Rizzo wasn’t playing particularly well before his latest injury, hitting .223/.289/.341 with eight home runs and 28 RBI while also defending below his Gold Glove standards over 70 games.
Rizzo, who played through his concussion symptoms for two months before they were diagnosed last year, is hitting .236/.312/.363 over the last two seasons.
While it’s been a while since Rizzo has performed to expectations, Boone was pleased with how the veteran looked prior to his rehab assignment.
“I thought just seeing him in the live BP last week, he looked really good,” the manager said. “He feels really good. So I think he’s really encouraged. He’s been running a lot. He’s been able to be in the weight room and things like that. So hopefully he gets through this, and then I don’t think he would need that much time playing in the field. More about just getting some regular at-bats right now.”
The start of Rizzo’s rehab coincides with Ben Rice‘s struggles.
The optionable rookie got off to a strong start, including a three-homer game on July 6. A natural catcher, he’s also held his own at first base.
However, Rice entered Friday’s game hitting just .117 over his last 21 contests. With the Yankees facing a lot of southpaws and the lefty swinger having his playing time interrupted lately, Rice also had just one hit in 10 games this month.
Boone has liked Rice’s at-bats throughout this lull, but the 25-year-old could be the odd man out when Rizzo is ready.
“There’s still been a lot of good at-bats in there, even when he’s gone through some stretches where he’s struggled,” Boone said. “I still feel strong that this guy’s got a chance to be a really good hitter up here.”
Another Option in LF
With Alex Verdugo flailing for months, Yankees fans have been begging for top prospect Jasson Domínguez to take over in left field. That hasn’t happened yet, much to their chagrin.
With the Yankees not yet ready for The Martian, Boone was asked about another left field alternative on Friday.
The versatile Oswaldo Cabrera has played the position 42 times in the majors, but only twice this year. Could he give Verdugo a break as he figures his issues out?
“Cabby’s an option everywhere, so we’ll see,” Boone said.
While the skipper didn’t exactly sound like he was going to jump at the idea, he noted that Cabrera has “handled himself well in the outfield.”
“You feel pretty good about wherever you put him on the field that he’s going to adapt and handle it,” Boone added. “I don’t ever really worry about that side of the ball with Cabby.”
Cabrera has mostly played the infield the last few months, but he’s still gotten some outfield work in. He’s also hit rather well of late, slashing .318/.370/.485 over 26 games prior to Friday.
Berti Has Trouble Flying
Rizzo wasn’t the only one starting a rehab assignment with Somerset on Friday, as Clarke Schmidt was scheduled to make his first start following a lat injury.
Jon Berti (calf) was supposed to join them, but he had a flight canceled on Thursday night. The infielder flew out on Friday, but then there was an issue with his bags. Instead of having him play, the Yankees planned on putting Berti through a full workout with Somerset on Friday before starting his assignment on Saturday.