New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is expected to miss four to six weeks after tests Monday revealed a fracture in the radial neck of his right arm, a person with knowledge told ESPN. of the situation, confirming a report. The injury will not require surgery.
Rizzo suffered the setback Sunday night when he collided with Boston Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino while running on a grounder in the seventh inning. Rizzo landed awkwardly on his right hand and clutched his wrist area as he fell to the ground writhing in pain.
The results of a fluoroscopy at Fenway Park were negative, but the Yankees scheduled more tests for Rizzo on Monday.
“He's got some soreness in his forearm in a few places,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after Sunday's game.
Rizzo, 34, has posted his worst numbers as a major league player this season, batting .223 with a .630 OPS in 69 games. But he showed flashes during the Yankees' road trip, collecting 4 hits, 4 walks and a home run in the four games leading up to Sunday.
“This past week, the guy has been hitting well and had some big hits,” Yankees center fielder Aaron Judge said Sunday. “He had a home run against Kansas City. We're going to miss him, but the first thing is health.”
Without Rizzo, the Yankees could move DJ LeMahieu from third base to first and have Oswaldo Cabrera play third; The Yankees finished Sunday's loss with that defensive alignment. Cabrera was the club's primary third baseman to start the season until LeMahieu came off the disabled list in late May.
Infielder Oswald Peraza is an option to take Rizzo's place on the active roster. Peraza, 24, has struggled at three minor league levels this season, but has played in the majors in each of the last two seasons and is already on the 40-man roster.
Ben Rice and TJ Rumfield have produced in the upper minors this season, but the Yankees would have to make room on the 40-man roster for either of them.
Rice, 25, has split his time this season between catcher and first baseman, batting .275 with a .925 OPS and 15 home runs between Double-A and Triple-A. Rumfield, a first baseman, is hitting .305/.370/.441 with five home runs in 55 games between the two levels.
The update on Rizzo was first reported by The Athletic.
