New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo hasn’t appeared in an MLB game since mid-June, but he has returned to the team just days before what is sure to be an emotional scene at Chicago’s Wrigley Field.
Rizzo, who won the 2016 World Series as a member of the Cubs, is expected to play at Wrigley for the first time since being traded before the 2021 MLB trade deadline.
Rizzo has played against the Cubs as a member of the Yankees, but those series were played at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees first baseman has not appeared in an MLB game since June 16 when he broke his right forearm in a collision with Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino.
He has hit eight home runs and driven in 28 RBI this season, slashing .223/.289/.341 on the year.
In 10 seasons with the Cubs, Rizzo hit 242 home runs and drove in 784 RBI, collected four Gold Glove awards and made three All-Star teams. He also played a pivotal role in the Cubs’ World Series run in 2016, hitting 32 home runs and driving in 109 RBI’s in 155 games during the regular season.
He hit the final out of the 2016 World Series at Cleveland’s Progressive Field, ending the Cubs’ 108-year title drought.
Rizzo and the Yankees will arrive at Wrigley for a three-game series beginning Friday, with first pitch set for 1:20 p.m.