There have been plenty of great players to come through the New York Yankees organization over the years, and one of the fan favorites, despite a short stint, was Anthony Rizzo.
He retired this past season, thanks in part to the former Chicago Cubs and Yankees first baseman not being able to return following an injury-plagued 2024 season.
But, as Bruce Levine of 670thescore.com shared on Twitter/x, Italy's GM for the World Baseball Classic revealed that Rizzo was asked to participate for Team Italy, and the now-retired first baseman is considering whether to accept or not.
Anthony Rizzo might return to baseball, but in the WBC
"On WSCR's Inside the Clubhouse, GM of the WBC team Italy Ned Colletti said that he asked former Cub Anthony Rizzo to participate on team Italy this spring," Levine shared. "Rizzo is still deciding."
Rizzo retired from MLB this past season, and a year later, he could wind up playing baseball again. The 36-year-old first baseman might be joining Team Italy for what could be his final professional baseball experience.
The three-time All-Star, 2016 World Series champion, and four-time Gold Glove Award winner has a chance to suit up one final time as a baseball player.
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The 14-year MLB veteran most recently played for the Yankees from 2021 through 2024. During the 2024 season, he played in 92 games, recording a.228 batting average with a.637 OPS.
In 2023, his second full year with the Yankees, Rizzo hit.244 with a.706 OPS. But, his best season with the Yankees came in 2022 when he hit.224, but finished with an.817 OPS thanks to 32 home runs, the most he's had in a single season of his career.
The longtime Cubs and Yankees first baseman has a chance to return to professional baseball as a part of Team Italy. Rizzo is still deciding whether to accept the invite or not, in what could be his last chance to play professional baseball.
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