New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is back on the roster for the AL Championship Series after missing the divisional round. Rizzo will join the Yankees as they take on the Cleveland Guardians, with Game 1 on Monday.
Rizzo was hit on the right side by a pitch in the Yankees’ regular season finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, breaking two fingers. The injury caused him to miss the Yankees’ entire 3–1 victory in the ALDS over the Kansas City Royals.
Both Rizzo and Yankees manager Aaron Boone were initially optimistic that Rizzo could play in the ALDS, but he was ultimately ruled out prior to the playoffs.
“If I got through it, I wouldn’t be able to be my best version either defensively or offensively,” Rizzo said after being ruled out. “I had to be honest with myself, and it’s hard, but this team now has a different look and a different energy that I’m confident I can join in the next round.”
Rizzo has been hit by 222 pitches in his 14-year career, the eighth-most in MLB history and the most for an active player. Earlier this season, he missed 62 games after breaking his right forearm in a collision with Boston Red Sox reliever Brennan Bernardino before returning to the lineup in early September.
Despite not being in the lineup, Rizzo practiced with the team throughout the division series, wearing a brace on his fingers. There is a good chance that he will also wear the brace during the ALCS.
As the higher seed, the Yankees will host the first two games of the best-of-seven series against the Guardians.
