Anthony Rizzo (baseball)
Encyclopedia
Anthony Rizzo is an American
professional baseball
first baseman
for the San Diego Padres
in Major League Baseball
(MLB). A top minor league prospect in the Boston Red Sox
organization, he was acquired by the Padres after the 2010 season along with three other prospects in exchange for All-Star
player Adrian Gonzalez
.
in Parkland, Florida
in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft
by the Red Sox. He was heading for Florida Atlantic University
before he was drafted and signed with a $325,000 signing bonus. He played in the Red Sox organization with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox
, Greenville Drive
, Salem Red Sox and the Portland Sea Dogs
. Rizzo hit 12 home runs in 2009. In 2010, he hit a combined .260 with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .334 and a slugging percentage (SLG) of .480 along with 42 doubles, 25 home runs and 100 RBIs between stops at High-A Salem and Double-A Portland. He credited the easing of his swing and making better use of his legs for his power surge.
, Reymond Fuentes, and Eric Patterson
to the Padres for three-time All-Star first baseman Gonzalez. Rizzo was considered the third best prospect (Kelly was #1) and the best power hitting prospect in the Red Sox organization . Kevin Boles
, Rizzo's manager at Salem, also previously managed Gonzalez in the minors. Boles said, "Rizzo reminds me a lot of Adrian Gonzalez ... Rizzo is a bigger kid and has a little more power, Adrian is a little more of a contact hitter, but they had very similar styles of play ... We thought very highly of Anthony Rizzo. He's going to be a heck of a player.'" Padres General Manager Jed Hoyer expected either Rizzo or Kyle Blanks
to eventually be the Padres major league starting first baseman.
The Padres invited Rizzo as a non-roster player to their Major League camp for 2011 Spring Training. He started the 2011 season in Triple-A with the Tucson Padres. In his first 15 games, Rizzo hit .452 with six home runs and 24 RBIs. In May 2011, The San Diego Union-Tribune
wrote that Rizzo's debut in the Major Leagues might be delayed by the Padres despite the club's hitting deficiencies due to cost considerations created by the "Super Two" exception for salary arbitration eligibility. The team cited Rizzo's lack of experience above Double-A and his limited exposure to left-handed pitching as benefits of him continuing to play in Tucson.
He was called up to the majors after hitting .365 with an OPS
of 1.159 along with 16 homers and 63 RBI in 200 at-bats over 52 games in Tucson. The San Diego Union-Tribune called Rizzo "the most celebrated Padres call-up" since Roberto Alomar
debuted with the team in 1988. Rizzo's promotion was prompted by the Padres' inadequate offensive production and fielding play of veterans at first base. In his debut on June 9, 2011, against the Washington Nationals
, Rizzo struck out in his first at bat, but then proceeded to hit a triple and score a run, helping the Padres to a 7–3 victory. He hit his first home run on June 11 against John Lannan
. After three games he was 3-for-7 with a double, triple and a home run, while demonstrated patience in drawing four walks
for a .667 on-base percentage (OBP). On July 22, 2011 Rizzo was demoted back to Triple-A, and Blanks was promoted. Rizzo had struggled with only a .143 batting average and 1 home run, striking out
36 times in 98 at-bats. Hoyer said Rizzo "worked hard, never made excuses, and endeared himself to his teammates" during his initial stint in the majors. Rizzo was recalled to the majors on September 4 after finishing the season at Tucson batting .331 with 26 homers and 101 RBI in 93 games. He finished his first season in San Diego hitting only .141 with 46 strikeouts in 128 at-bats. Hoyer believed Rizzo would be the starting first baseman for the Padres in 2012 with Jesus Guzman
as the second option.
in May 2008 and was successfully treated with chemotherapy
. He has an older brother, John, who was a lineman for the Florida Atlantic University football team
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional baseball
Professional baseball
Baseball is a team sport which is played by several professional leagues throughout the world. In these leagues, and associated farm teams, players are selected for their talents and are paid to play for a specific team or club system....
first baseman
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
for the San Diego Padres
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are a Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California. They play in the National League Western Division. Founded in 1969, the Padres have won the National League Pennant twice, in 1984 and 1998, losing in the World Series both times...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
(MLB). A top minor league prospect in the Boston Red Sox
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
organization, he was acquired by the Padres after the 2010 season along with three other prospects in exchange for All-Star
Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The Major League Baseball All-Star Game, also known as the "Midsummer Classic", is an annual baseball game between players from the National League and the American League, currently selected by a combination of fans, players, coaches, and managers...
player Adrian Gonzalez
Adrián González
Adrian Gonzalez is an American professional baseball first baseman with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball.Gonzalez was the first overall pick in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft by the Florida Marlins. He was traded to the Texas Rangers, and later to the San Diego Padres, where he...
.
Boston Red Sox
Rizzo was a sixth round draft choice out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High SchoolMarjory Stoneman Douglas High School
Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School is located in Parkland, Florida. It is a part of the Broward County Public School district, and it is the only public high school in Parkland....
in Parkland, Florida
Parkland, Florida
Parkland is an city in Broward County, Florida, where zoning laws are designed to protect the "parklike" character of the city. Initially, there were no stores or traffic lights in Parkland, though this changed in the early 2000s. As of the 2010 census, the population of Parkland was 23,962...
in the 2007 Major League Baseball Draft
2007 Major League Baseball Draft
The 2007 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft was Major League Baseball's annual amateur draft of high school and college baseball players, and was held on June 7 and June 8, 2007...
by the Red Sox. He was heading for Florida Atlantic University
Florida Atlantic Owls baseball
The Florida Atlantic Owls are the college baseball team of Florida Atlantic University which plays its home games at FAU Baseball Stadium.Fielding its first team in 1981, the Florida Atlantic University baseball team has experienced frequent success, shared respect from other baseball teams...
before he was drafted and signed with a $325,000 signing bonus. He played in the Red Sox organization with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox
Gulf Coast League Red Sox
The Gulf Coast League Red Sox are the Rookie Level minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. The team plays in Fort Myers, Florida, at the Boston Red Sox Player Development Complex and some games at City of Palms Park....
, Greenville Drive
Greenville Drive
The Greenville Drive is a minor league baseball team that plays in Greenville, South Carolina. They are a Class A affiliate of the Boston Red Sox and a member of the South Atlantic League. Prior to the 2005 SAL season, the team played in Columbia, South Carolina, was affiliated with the New York...
, Salem Red Sox and the Portland Sea Dogs
Portland Sea Dogs
The Portland Sea Dogs are the Double-A minor league affiliate of the Boston Red Sox. Established in 1994 and based in Portland, Maine, the Sea Dogs play in the Northern Division of the Eastern League....
. Rizzo hit 12 home runs in 2009. In 2010, he hit a combined .260 with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .334 and a slugging percentage (SLG) of .480 along with 42 doubles, 25 home runs and 100 RBIs between stops at High-A Salem and Double-A Portland. He credited the easing of his swing and making better use of his legs for his power surge.
San Diego Padres
On December 6, 2010, Rizzo was traded along with Casey KellyCasey Kelly
Casey Kelly is an American minor league baseball player in the San Diego Padres organization. He was a first round draft choice, 30th overall, in the 2008 Major League Baseball Draft by the Boston Red Sox...
, Reymond Fuentes, and Eric Patterson
Eric Patterson
Eric Scott Patterson is an American professional baseball outfielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball. He has also played second base in the majors, which he predominantly played in the minor leagues...
to the Padres for three-time All-Star first baseman Gonzalez. Rizzo was considered the third best prospect (Kelly was #1) and the best power hitting prospect in the Red Sox organization . Kevin Boles
Kevin Boles
Kevin Patrick Boles is an American minor league baseball manager. On December 22, 2010, he was named the manager of the Portland Sea Dogs, Double-A Eastern League affiliate of the Boston Red Sox...
, Rizzo's manager at Salem, also previously managed Gonzalez in the minors. Boles said, "Rizzo reminds me a lot of Adrian Gonzalez ... Rizzo is a bigger kid and has a little more power, Adrian is a little more of a contact hitter, but they had very similar styles of play ... We thought very highly of Anthony Rizzo. He's going to be a heck of a player.'" Padres General Manager Jed Hoyer expected either Rizzo or Kyle Blanks
Kyle Blanks
Kyle Nathaniel Blanks is a Major League Baseball player for the San Diego Padres.-Early life:Blanks grew up in Moriarty, New Mexico where he was a stand-out for the Moriarty High Pintos...
to eventually be the Padres major league starting first baseman.
The Padres invited Rizzo as a non-roster player to their Major League camp for 2011 Spring Training. He started the 2011 season in Triple-A with the Tucson Padres. In his first 15 games, Rizzo hit .452 with six home runs and 24 RBIs. In May 2011, The San Diego Union-Tribune
The San Diego Union-Tribune
-Predecessors:The predecessor newspapers of the Union-Tribune were:* San Diego Sun, founded 1861 and merged with the Evening Tribune in 1939.* San Diego Union, founded October 10, 1868.* Evening Tribune, founded December 2, 1895.-Ownership:...
wrote that Rizzo's debut in the Major Leagues might be delayed by the Padres despite the club's hitting deficiencies due to cost considerations created by the "Super Two" exception for salary arbitration eligibility. The team cited Rizzo's lack of experience above Double-A and his limited exposure to left-handed pitching as benefits of him continuing to play in Tucson.
He was called up to the majors after hitting .365 with an OPS
On-base plus slugging
On-base plus slugging is a sabermetric baseball statistic calculated as the sum of a player's on-base percentage and slugging percentage. The ability of a player to both get on base and to hit for power, two important hitting skills, are represented. An OPS of .900 or higher in Major League...
of 1.159 along with 16 homers and 63 RBI in 200 at-bats over 52 games in Tucson. The San Diego Union-Tribune called Rizzo "the most celebrated Padres call-up" since Roberto Alomar
Roberto Alomar
Roberto "Robbie" Alomar Velázquez is a former Major League Baseball player , regarded by many as one of the best second basemen in MLB history. During his career he won more Gold Gloves than any other second baseman in history, and also won the second-most Silver Slugger Awards for a second...
debuted with the team in 1988. Rizzo's promotion was prompted by the Padres' inadequate offensive production and fielding play of veterans at first base. In his debut on June 9, 2011, against the Washington Nationals
Washington Nationals
The Washington Nationals are a professional baseball team based in Washington, D.C. The Nationals are a member of the Eastern Division of the National League of Major League Baseball . The team moved into the newly built Nationals Park in 2008, after playing their first three seasons in RFK Stadium...
, Rizzo struck out in his first at bat, but then proceeded to hit a triple and score a run, helping the Padres to a 7–3 victory. He hit his first home run on June 11 against John Lannan
John Lannan
John Edward Lannan is a left-handed starting pitcher in the Washington Nationals organization....
. After three games he was 3-for-7 with a double, triple and a home run, while demonstrated patience in drawing four walks
Base on balls
A base on balls is credited to a batter and against a pitcher in baseball statistics when a batter receives four pitches that the umpire calls balls. It is better known as a walk. The base on balls is defined in Section 2.00 of baseball's Official Rules, and further detail is given in 6.08...
for a .667 on-base percentage (OBP). On July 22, 2011 Rizzo was demoted back to Triple-A, and Blanks was promoted. Rizzo had struggled with only a .143 batting average and 1 home run, striking out
Strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
36 times in 98 at-bats. Hoyer said Rizzo "worked hard, never made excuses, and endeared himself to his teammates" during his initial stint in the majors. Rizzo was recalled to the majors on September 4 after finishing the season at Tucson batting .331 with 26 homers and 101 RBI in 93 games. He finished his first season in San Diego hitting only .141 with 46 strikeouts in 128 at-bats. Hoyer believed Rizzo would be the starting first baseman for the Padres in 2012 with Jesus Guzman
Jesús Guzmán
Jesús Antonio Guzmán is a Venezuelan professional baseball infielder for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball.-Professional career:Guzmán was signed by the Seattle Mariners as an undrafted free agent in 2000...
as the second option.
Personal life
Rizzo was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphomaHodgkin's lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma, previously known as Hodgkin's disease, is a type of lymphoma, which is a cancer originating from white blood cells called lymphocytes...
in May 2008 and was successfully treated with chemotherapy
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with an antineoplastic drug or with a combination of such drugs into a standardized treatment regimen....
. He has an older brother, John, who was a lineman for the Florida Atlantic University football team
Florida Atlantic Owls football
The Florida Atlantic Owls football team represents Florida Atlantic University, a mid-major NCAA Division I-A college football team, that competes in the Sun Belt Conference.-Overview and history:...
.
External links
- Anthony Rizzo Stats, Bio, Photos, Highlights at minorleaguebaseball.com