Anthony Rizzo talks about ‘awful timing’ for hand injury as Yankees prepare to participate in playoffs

Aaron Boone talks about player options as Anthony Rizzo becomes unavailable to play with a hand injury.

Anthony Rizzo talks about ‘awful timing’ for hand injury as Yankees prepare to participate in playoffs

Anthony Rizzo [Image Credit: Pinstripe Alley]

2024 doesn’t seem to fare well for New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo, as the veteran is out of the lineup for October games due to a hand injury. He missed most of the season due to a fractured right forearm and returned to the team early this month.

His recuperation took time, but unfortunately, the baseman once again left a hole in the lineup after getting drilled by a pitch and fracturing two fingers in his right hand on Saturday. Given the extent of the injury, it is unlikely he’ll be back for the playoffs, but manager Aaron Boone wants to give him time to think about it and see if he can heal in time somehow.

Boone called Rizzo’s return, “very much a long shot.” For now, the NY Yankees have not placed Rizzo on the IL. With a week’s break, they’ll wait for a final update from medical professionals to make the call for the playoff lineup. 

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We want to see these days unfold and, by the middle (or) end of the week, what he’s capable of doing to see if it’s even a possibility.

Aaron Boone on X.

Rizzo commented that he is trying to stay in good spirits and focus fully on healing himself to be even a bit better in order to not miss the October games. Anthony Rizzo commented,

Overall, I’m in good spirits. Obviously, it’s awful timing, but it happened for a reason. I’m trying to just process it. I’m in as good spirits as I think I could be.

Anthony Rizzo as per Max Goodman of NJ.

Rizzo said he’ll see if the treatment works and if the pain is tolerable otherwise he’ll be honest with the team and focus on healing. “I’m not gonna come and try to play if I can’t,” he said.

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NY Yankees strategize on other player options with Anthony Rizzo out of lineup

If Anthony Rizzo can’t play at the start of the playoffs, the New York Yankees will most probably turn to Ben Rice or Oswaldo Cabrera to fill in. While Rice’s performance has wavered a bit, Cabrera can fit in any role to play on the diamond, as per Aaron Boone.

Anthony Rizzo
Anthony Rizzo [Image Credit: The NY Times]

On the other hand, infielder DJ LeMahieu is still working his way up after being in 10-day IL with a right hip impingement. While Rice may have stumbled a bit with the Yankees, Boone liked how he played and he may be called up to fill in Rizzo’s position.

Boone understands how Rice may have been overwhelmed playing in The Bronx saying, “He came up this year and was thrust into it as a rookie, having not a lot of playing experience at that time at first base.” With the Yankees looking for player options, Rizzo is trying his best as “This is what you dream of, playing in October.”

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