Anthony Rizzo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anthony Rizzo |
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Rizzo with the Chicago Cubs in 2016
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| Free agent | |||
| First baseman | |||
| Born: August 8, 1989 Parkland, Florida, U.S. |
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| debut | |||
| June 9, 2011, for the San Diego Padres | |||
| MLB statistics (through 2024 season) |
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| Batting average | .261 | ||
| Hits | 1,644 | ||
| Home runs | 303 | ||
| Runs batted in | 965 | ||
| Teams | |||
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| Career highlights and awards | |||
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Anthony Vincent Rizzo (born August 8, 1989) is an American professional baseball first baseman. He is currently a free agent. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, and New York Yankees.
Rizzo was picked by the Boston Red Sox in the 2007 MLB draft. He became a top young player in their system. Later, he was traded to the San Diego Padres. He made his MLB debut in 2011. After joining the Cubs in 2012, he became a star. He was chosen for the All-Star Game three times in a row. Rizzo also won many awards, including the Silver Slugger Award, Gold Glove Award, and Roberto Clemente Award. He helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016. In 2021, he was traded to the Yankees. He is also known for his charity work.
Baseball Career Highlights
Starting in Boston
Rizzo was drafted by the Red Sox in 2007. He was still in high school at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland. He played for several Red Sox minor league teams. By 2010, he was hitting well. He had 25 home runs and 100 RBIs that year.
Time with the Padres
In 2010, Rizzo was traded to the Padres. He was seen as a top young player. His manager in the minor leagues compared him to star player Adrián González. Rizzo started the 2011 season in Triple-A. He played very well there.
He was called up to the Padres in June 2011. This was a big moment for the team. In his first game, he hit a triple. He hit his first home run a few days later. However, he struggled a bit in his first MLB season. He was sent back to Triple-A for a time.
Becoming a Star with the Cubs
In 2012, Rizzo was traded to the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs' general manager, Jed Hoyer, had drafted Rizzo before. He believed in Rizzo's talent.
2012 Season
Rizzo started 2012 in Triple-A again. He played great, hitting 23 home runs. He was called up to the Cubs in June. He quickly made a big impact. He hit seven home runs in July. This was the most by a Cubs rookie in a month since 1983. He was named the NL Rookie of the Month.
2013 Season
In 2013, Rizzo signed a long-term contract with the Cubs. He hit 23 home runs and 40 doubles. He was also a finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award. This award honors players who give back to their communities.
2014 Season
Rizzo had a great 2014 season. Fans voted him into the All-Star Game. He won his first Player of the Week award. He finished the season with 32 home runs. He was also hit by pitches 15 times, leading the league.
2015 Season
Rizzo was again chosen for the 2015 All-Star Team. He also took part in the 2015 Major League Baseball Home Run Derby. He hit his 100th career home run. He also reached 300 RBIs. Rizzo was hit by a pitch 30 times, leading the league again. He won the Heart & Hustle Award. This award goes to a player who shows great passion for the game.
2016 World Series Champion
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Rizzo was the starting first baseman for the 2016 All-Star Game. He became one of only three Cubs players to hit over 40 doubles and 30 home runs in one year. He had 32 home runs and 109 RBIs. Rizzo won his first Gold Glove Award for his excellent defense.
After a slow start in the playoffs, Rizzo played a key role. He helped the Cubs win their first World Series since 1908. He also won the Silver Slugger Award for his hitting. He received the MLBPAA Cubs Heart and Hustle Award for the third time.
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2017 Season
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In 2017, Rizzo sometimes batted first in the lineup. He hit several lead-off home runs. He was second in voting for the All-Star Game first baseman. He hit 32 home runs and 109 RBIs. He led the league in being hit by pitches again. In October, Rizzo received the Roberto Clemente Award. This was for his charity work to help children with cancer. He said it was "the greatest award you can win."
2018-2020 Seasons
In 2018, Rizzo was on the injured list for the first time due to a back issue. He finished the season with 25 home runs and 101 RBIs. He won his second Gold Glove Award. In 2019, he hit .293 with 27 home runs. He also won his third Gold Glove. In the shortened 2020 season, Rizzo played 58 games. He hit 11 home runs. He won his fourth Gold Glove Award, his third in a row.
2021 Season with Cubs
Rizzo played 92 games for the Cubs in 2021. He hit 14 home runs. In one game, he even pitched for two outs.
Joining the New York Yankees
2021 Trade to Yankees
On July 29, 2021, Rizzo was traded to the New York Yankees. He made an immediate impact. In his first two games, he had two home runs. He was the first Yankees player to get on base eight times in his first two games. He also became the first Yankee to get an RBI in his first six games with the team. On September 30, Rizzo hit his 250th career home run.
2022-2024 Seasons
In March 2022, Rizzo signed a new contract with the Yankees. He hit home runs in the first two games of the 2022 season. In April, he hit three home runs in one game. He played well in the 2022 playoffs. After the 2022 season, he chose to become a free agent.
Rizzo signed another contract with the Yankees in November 2022. In May 2023, he had a collision during a game. This caused a neck injury. He later was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome. He did not play for the rest of 2023.
Rizzo started the 2024 season as the Yankees' first baseman. In June, he broke his arm in a collision. He returned in September. Later that month, he broke fingers on his right hand after being hit by a pitch. The Yankees did not offer him a contract for 2025, making him a free agent.
Playing for Italy
Rizzo's family comes from Ciminna, a town in Italy. Because of this, he chose to play for the Italian national baseball team. He played for Italy in the 2013 World Baseball Classic.
Personal Life
Anthony Rizzo has an older brother named John. John played football for Florida Atlantic University.
In April 2008, Rizzo was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. This is a type of cancer. He went through chemotherapy for six months. On September 2, 2008, his doctor told him the cancer was gone. He was told he could live a normal life.
Rizzo proposed to Emily Vakos in June 2017. They met during spring training in 2016. They got married on December 29, 2018. His teammate Kris Bryant was a groomsman. In 2020, they adopted a dog named Kevin. They live in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Charity Work
In 2012, the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation was started. This is a non-profit group. It helps fund cancer research. It also supports families who are fighting cancer. Rizzo's family and friends run the foundation.
In August 2017, the foundation gave $3.5 million to the Lurie Children's Hospital in Chicago. This brought their total donations to the hospital to over $4 million.
On February 15, 2018, Rizzo gave an emotional speech. This was at a vigil for the victims of the Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida. Rizzo went to that high school. He met with survivors of the shooting. He helped donate $305,000 to a fund for the victims and their families.
The Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation holds many events. These include "Cook-Off For Cancer" and "Walk-Off for Cancer." These events raise a lot of money.
- In 2015, the Cook-Off raised over $270,000. The Walk-Off raised over $200,000.
- In 2016, the Cook-Off raised over $630,000. The Walk-Off raised over $500,000.
- In 2017, the Walk-Off raised $960,000.
- In 2018, the Walk-Off raised $1.1 million.
- In 2019, the Cook-Off raised $1.8 million. The Walk-Off raised over $1.35 million.
- In January 2020, a "Laugh-Off for Cancer" raised almost $500,000.
- In February 2020, Rizzo donated $150,000 to his old high school. This helped pay for lights on their baseball and softball fields. The baseball field is now called Anthony Rizzo Field.
- In November 2020, the Walk-Off for Cancer raised over $850,000.
See also
In Spanish: Anthony Rizzo para niños
