Head coach Aaron Boone described Anthony Rizzo’s season so far as “a struggle.”
The first baseman was hitless again in the Yankees’ 5-1 win over the Twins on Tuesday night at the Stadium and has not gotten a hit in his last three games.
It’s part of a long slump in which Rizzo has just 13 hits in 70 at-bats, one extra-base hit, one walk, 12 strikeouts and a .416 OPS over his past 18 games.
Tuesday was no different, with the first baseman hitting four balls, none of which left the infield, and all of the exit velocities being between 60 and 84 mph.
“He’s two weeks away from all of a sudden having a good, consistent season,” Boone said. “If he hits two home runs in this home game, that’s 10 home runs in the middle of the lineup and it increases his chances of having a good month, a good year. He’s just trying to find that good timing.”
Hitting coach James Rowson agreed that’s Rizzo’s biggest issue.
“You can tell if he’s fast or slow, as he has in the past, and when that adds up, his other numbers are off his normal level,” Rowson said. “You can see his at-bats, innings pitched, RBIs coming up, and once he gets going, all those other numbers will start to normalize.”
And Rowson is confident that will happen soon.
“I definitely believe he’s close,” Rowson said, “and then we’ll be able to attack. We’re just trying to figure it out. We’ve got to make sure we get there the right way.”
But until then, Rizzo will be a rare hole in the Yankees’ lineup.
The Twins are scheduled to start right-handed pitchers in all three games, and the left-handed hitter Rizzo played as the sixth batter in Tuesday’s game against right-hander Bailey Ober.
Rizzo entered Tuesday’s game with a .731 OPS against right-handed pitchers, but just .471 against left-handed pitchers.
DJ LeMahieu started again at third base and was hitless in two at-bats, with one walk and one run scored.
LeMahieu is just four for 20 with no extra base hits in his first six games since returning from a broken right foot, but Boone said he was pleased with LeMahieu’s physical response.
“He’s looking good,” Boone said. “He’s had some good at-bats so far, he’s moving well and is recovering well physically.”
Scott Efros is now able to face hitters in his rehabilitation from Tommy John surgery, a 2022 surgery that was delayed by back surgery in December.
He is expected to return later this summer.
When asked to compare Juan Soto’s confidence and presence to another player, Boone said, “Barry Bonds.”
“But Juan has his own talent,” the manager said. “There’s a theatrical level there. There’s an element of fight, of struggle. We want our team to be like him.”
Soto called the comparison “extraordinary.”
Anthony Volpe was 1-for-4 at-bat, reaching base in a career-high 30 consecutive games.
