MILWAUKEE — Until last week, Anthony Rizzo had one home run in the first 23 games of the season and 296 in his career.
After six games and one onslaught, the Yankees’ veteran first baseman had a breakthrough.
Rizzo hit his 300th career home run late in Sunday’s 15-5 win over the Brewers at American Family Field, becoming the 161st player in MLB history to accomplish the feat.
“Amazing. It’s amazing,” Rizzo said. “At milestones like this, you take time to reflect on yourself and realize how hard the process was and how much fun it was. It feels great. After two good days offensively as a team. It feels better to bust out.
“Overall, it was a good day and one we will definitely remember.”
Rizzo’s two-run hit was off Brewers right-hander Janson Jank, his second in the past few days and his fourth in the last six games.
The left-handed slugger went 4-for-4 on the day, adding two doubles and a walk and scoring three runs.
Rizzo, 34, was in the middle of his 14th season in the big leagues when he successfully retrieved a ball that fell into the Yankees’ bullpen to add to his collection.
“That speaks volumes,” Aaron Judge said. “Having the opportunity to play with him, I’ve watched him from afar for years. To bring him here in pinstripes, to see the way he works, the way he controls the room. To see how he releases his players on and off the field and how he competes every day. … It’s pretty special for him to be on that list and count.”
Rizzo also becomes the 12th active player to hit at least 300 home runs, a list that also includes teammate Giancarlo Stanton (408). Judge, 263, who played deep in Sunday’s second straight game, is the next active player to reach 300 and could join the club by the end of this season.
Manager Aaron Boone said, “There are a lot of home runs.” “It’s nothing to sneeze at. 300 home runs is something to be proud of. [Not] There are many people who are lucky enough to wear a Major League uniform. Very few do it at the level that Liz did in her career. 300 years old is a special milestone in a very special career. ”
More importantly for the Yankees, Rizzo, whose last season was derailed by post-concussion syndrome, has looked more like himself over the past week.
After batting .227 with a .590 OPS and one home run in the first 23 games of the season, Rizzo is batting .458 (11-for-24) with a 1.522 OPS and four home runs in his last six games. .
“I always focus on finding a good position. [to hit] It’s about staying there and being consistent,” Rizzo said. “For me, that’s a big thing. … This game just comes out of nowhere. When you feel good, you feel good, and right now it’s important to be consistent with that and keep going through the process.”
