Anthony Rizzo taking hits, getting big ones for Yankees

Anthony Rizzo took A.J. Puk’s 95.5 mph sinker right on the right elbow Monday night in the Yankees’ win over the A’s. This was a rather familiar scene. Rizzo and getting hit by a pitch just seem to go together.

That brought his total to 11 times this season, ranking third in the majors. Actually, he’s the majors’ runaway winner in getting hit by pitches dating to 2011 — 189 times.

“He’s not afraid to get hit,” manager Aaron Boone said before Tuesday night’s rematch at Yankee Stadium. “It’s been something that he’s gotten hit a lot over the course of his career just because he’s right on top of the plate, kind of dares you to come in there a little bit.”

The 32-year-old lefty-hitting first baseman was drilled in the seventh inning and departed for a pinch hitter in the eighth. But Rizzo was back for this next game, and that was a good thing for the Yankees, who owned the best record in the majors at 54-20.

“It’s fun,” Rizzo said. “It’s a good group.”

His contributions have sure helped this group.

When he sent up a solo shot in the first inning Monday, it marked his 20th homer. It was the ninth time in a career spent mostly with the Cubs that he had done that dating to 2013. It also made him the only player to launch at least 20 in nine seasons over that span.

And it gave Rizzo nine homers in June, tying his most in a calendar month. He also did it May 2019 and this April. He had cracked five homers in his previous 12 games entering Tuesday night. He was only batting .222, but he had driven in 50 runs in 73 games.

His value, though, has been way beyond the numbers.

“He’s been huge,” Boone said. “I say he’s made for pinstripes.

“He’s obviously still a great player between the lines. There’s the production, 20 homers. Outstanding first baseman. But as I always say with him, the game within the game, too.

“… He just does a lot of little winning things all the time. And then in the room, he’s been tremendous. He strikes that balance between being prepared and ready, and [has] kind of that grinder mentality. But also there’s a real ease to him, which I think rubs off on other guys.”

The Yankees acquired the three-time NL All-Star and four-time Gold Glove winner last July 29 from Chicago. He was then a free agent-to-be in his 10th season with the Cubs, having played a big role in them ending a 108-year World Series title drought in 2016. But he had to move on and did so with a positive mindset.

“That’s not the type of person I am, just to take something negatively,” Rizzo said.  “… The logo here speaks for itself.”

Rizzo posted a slash line of .249/.340/.428 with eight homers and 21 RBIs in 49 games with the Yankees last season. Then he re-signed for two years and $32 million, although he has an opt-out after this season.

But he says he’s grateful to be with the Yankees. Now he wants to win a World Series wearing this logo.

“The dream is to make it to the major leagues and win World Series championships,” Rizzo said. “I think if you ask any player, it doesn’t matter what team you’re on, that’s the dream. So to be able to do it on a historic franchise is just that much better, that much juicer of an experience.”