Yankees’ Anthony Rizzo slumping during Aaron Judge’s absence
New York Yankees’ first baseman, Anthony Rizzo, knows all too well how the ups and downs of an MLB season work. During his 55-game streak this year, Rizzo felt invincible. But during his recent 1-for-27 slump that spanned seven games, his average dropped to .273. Rizzo, however, remained optimistic and acknowledged such ups and downs are part of the game. Manager Aaron Boone also confirmed that Rizzo’s neck injury, which forced him to skip a series with the Mariners, had not been physically bothering him during this slump. With teammate Aaron Judge out, the Yankees had hoped Rizzo would step up, especially since he had been their most consistent hitter for the first three months of the season. But Rizzo struck out twice on attempts with runners on base in Friday’s 3-2 loss to the Boston Red Sox, contributing to the team’s recent struggles.
FAQs:
What is Rizzo’s average this season?
Rizzo’s average is currently .273.
How long was Rizzo’s hitless slump?
Rizzo’s recent slump spanned seven games, during which he went 1-for-27.
Did Rizzo’s injury contribute to his slump?
According to Rizzo and his manager, his neck injury did not physically impact his play during his slump.
Was Rizzo expected to step up in Judge’s absence?
Yes, with Aaron Judge sidelined, the Yankees had hoped Rizzo, their most consistent hitter of the season, would help replace Judge’s production.
Anthony Rizzo’s Performance Has Dropped While Aaron Judge is Out of the Lineup for the Yankees
Anthony Rizzo, the Yankees first baseman, knows the ebbs and flows of a long MLB season. He experienced the high of finding a groove in his game for the first 55 games of 2023, where he felt like he could not be stopped. On the other hand, he also faced the low of a slump, which he is currently going through, with a 1-for-27 stretch of games that brought his average down to .273. Despite his recent struggles, both Rizzo and Yankees manager Aaron Boone affirmed that his neck injury, which forced him to miss the Mariners series, has not been physically impacting him. Rizzo shared that going through a slump is just part of the game he loves and added that a few bad games, even three weeks, will not define his entire season.
Unfortunately for the Yankees, Rizzo’s slump has occurred during a critical period since Aaron Judge is out with a right big toe sprain and the team needs his consistent hitting from the first three months. Rizzo has not been able to record a hit in the five games without Judge. Before the Seattle series, Rizzo was batting .304, but his awkward collision with the Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. on a pickoff tag created neck stiffness that kept him out of play.
In the recent game against the Red Sox, with runners on base during Rizzo’s first two at-bats, both ended without any advancement. Although he hit a lineout that reached 100.5 mph exit velocity, he struck out in the first inning and lined out in the third. Yankees’ manager Boone thinks that Rizzo’s groundout in the sixth was a “rocket,” but the team needs his early season version or something close to it in crucial moments of close games, especially with Judge out of commission.