The New York Yankees will send first baseman Anthony Rizzo to the injured list with a concussion.
Rizzo started off the season on a high note, but hasn’t been the same since late-May.
It isn’t a coincidence, though.
On May 28, Fernando Tatis Jr. of the San Diego Padres collided with Rizzo at first base, as he was returning after a pickoff attempt.
Anthony Rizzo is going on the IL with a “likely concussion” that they’re traced back to the Tatis Jr. incident in late May
(via @ChrisKirschner) pic.twitter.com/N9RpgYpqUF
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 3, 2023
Rizzo was forced to leave that game but eventually returned, only to slump badly from that point on.
As it turns out, he has a concussion and, according to insider Bryan Hoch, there is more.
“Boone said the Yankees trace this back to the Tatis Jr. collision. Testing showed cognitive impairment,” he tweeted.
Boone said the Yankees trace this back to the Tatis Jr. collision. Testing showed cognitive impairment https://t.co/5M5qq4dJge
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) August 3, 2023
Ouch.
It’s not yet known how long Rizzo will be out, but he obviously shouldn’t return unless and until he feels 100 percent healthy.
The management of the injury has been disastrous: more than two months have passed since it happened, and they are just sending him to the injured list now.
We don’t know if the organization was aware of the implications of the injury or if Rizzo wasn’t entirely truthful about it.
All we know is that before May 28, Rizzo’s OPS was .880.
After that?
.496.
That’s very revealing.
For weeks, even months, the Yankees didn’t know what was behind Rizzo’s struggles.
Now we all know why.
The Yankees are apparently transitioning Jake Bauers to first base, and DJ LeMahieu will likely see some time there, too.
Hopefully, Rizzo can return to full health.
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