Rizzo won't be on Yankees' ALDS roster due to fractured fingers
New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo announced Friday that he won't be on their roster for the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals due to his fractured fingers, according to Newsday's Erik Boland.
The Yankees had hoped the bye week would give Rizzo enough time to get into game shape. However, Rizzo tested his fingers Friday and decided that he couldn't contribute at a high level against Kansas City, although he's hoping to play if the team advances to the ALCS.
"Gutting through it, I wouldn't be able to be my best version defensively or offensively," Rizzo said, according to Ronald Blum of The Associated Press. "I had to be honest with myself, and it's tough, but this team has a different aura right now and a different energy that I'm confident hopefully in the next round to join them."
The fourth and fifth fingers on Rizzo's right hand were broken when he was hit by a pitch during the Yankees' penultimate game of the season against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
It marked the latest health setback for the three-time All-Star, who's missed a large portion of the last two years with injuries that include a concussion in 2023 and a fractured forearm earlier this year. When healthy, Rizzo's been struggling, hitting .228/.301/.335 with eight homers and 35 RBIs in 92 games. He didn't hit a home run in September.
Rookie Ben Rice is a likely candidate to join the postseason roster and man first base during the ALDS. Rice started 40 games at first while Rizzo was hurt earlier in the year. He put up a .613 OPS with seven homers and 23 RBIs over 178 big-league plate appearances in 2024.
Another possible first-base option for the upcoming series is utility player Oswaldo Cabrera, although he's made only 17 appearances at the position in the majors. Manager Aaron Boone said last week that he'd be comfortable with a tandem of Rice and Cabrera during the playoffs if necessary.
Game 1 of the Yankees-Royals ALDS goes Saturday at 6:38 p.m. ET.