2 min read • August 03, 2023
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Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo will land on the concussion injured list with recently reported symptoms stemming with a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. in late May.
The move signals that Rizzo is unlikely to play the rest of the season, according to the Pro Baseball Docs. At first glance, there isn’t any indication that the Yankees handled the issue poorly.
Rizzo passed the initial concussion tests following the May 28 injury, but he sat the next three games with a minor neck injury.
Boone said Rizzo will go on the IL with a “likely concussion.”
Recently, he complained of fogginess and was reevaluated, leading to the diagnosis of cognitive impairment, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
After hitting .327 with 6 home runs in 25 games in May, Rizzo hit .173 with 0 home runs in 22 games in June and .167 with 1 home run in July. That poor batting performance indicates he was not at his sharpest, but that alone is not a concussion symptom or reason for Rizzo to be continually tested.
If Rizzo did not report symptoms until recently, the Yankees adequately followed MLB’s concussion protocol.
The 33-year-old will be monitored “week-to-week,” according to Boone, and does not have a set return timeline.
Given the seriousness of his concussion as well as delayed symptoms, Rizzo would be fortunate to return to baseball by next spring training.
Former Twins first baseman Justin Morneau is a famous recent example of a career-altering concussion in baseball. Morneau did not finish the 2010 season after taking a knee to the head in a slide in July 2010. He had a lackluster season in 2011, shortened by a wrist injury.
In spring training of the 2012 season, Morneau vowed to retire if his symptoms continued. Fortunately, they ceased ahead of that season and he went on to retire in 2016 at the age of 35.
Oswaldo Cabrera was called up to fill Rizzo’s roster spot.
Jake Bauers and DJ LeMahieu will likely see increased time at first base with Rizzo out.
In other Yankees injury news, Nestor Cortes is back from IL but fellow starter Domingo German is out for the foreseeable future after voluntarily entering a treatment program for alcohol abuse.
The team is currently last in the AL East with a 56-52 record, 3.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot.
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