In Tampa, Florida, another injury concern arises for the Yankees as they approach Opening Day. Just before Friday’s spring training game against the Mets at Steinbrenner Field, first baseman Anthony Rizzo was pulled from the starting lineup due to tightness in his lat muscle.
Luis Torrens, a non-roster invitee primarily serving as a catcher, took his place in the lineup. Rizzo’s health has been scrutinized since last summer, following a collision with Padres’ star Fernando Tatis Jr. This incident led to a prolonged period of struggle for Rizzo, culminating in being sidelined due to post-concussion syndrome.
This spring, however, Rizzo appeared to have regained his form, demonstrating his vintage prowess with a .412 batting average and a 1.188 OPS in 14 spring games. Yet, this latest setback with lat tightness is a new development.
The severity of Rizzo’s injury remains speculative until an update is provided by manager Aaron Boone after Friday’s game. With DJ LeMahieu also recovering from a significant bone bruise sustained from a foul ball off his right foot, the Yankees face the possibility of being without both starting corner infielders on Opening Day next Thursday.
While LeMahieu aims for a swift return, Boone emphasizes a cautious approach given his history of foot injuries. In the event that both Rizzo and LeMahieu are unavailable, the Yankees may need to seek external options before the season opener in Houston.
Otherwise, they may rely on in-house alternatives such as Oswaldo Cabrera, Kevin Smith, and Jahmai Jones, each offering varying degrees of versatility in filling the void left by the sidelined players.