Anthony Rizzo | |||
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Rizzo with the Chicago Cubs in 2016
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Chicago Cubs – No. 44 | |||
First baseman | |||
Born: Fort Lauderdale, Florida |
August 8, 1989 |||
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MLB debut | |||
June 9, 2011, for the San Diego Padres | |||
MLB statistics (through May 20, 2017) |
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Batting average | .265 | ||
Hits | 773 | ||
Home runs | 141 | ||
Runs batted in | 447 | ||
Stolen bases | 40 | ||
Teams | |||
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Career highlights and awards | |||
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Anthony Vincent Rizzo (born August 8, 1989) is an American professional baseball first baseman for the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball (MLB). He is a three-time All-Star. Rizzo was selected by the Boston Red Sox in the sixth round of the 2007 MLB draft and became a top minor league prospect in the Red Sox organization. He was traded to the San Diego Padres after the 2010 season along with three other prospects in exchange for All-Star first baseman Adrian Gonzalez. After being traded to the Cubs in 2012, he developed into an All-Star player.
Rizzo was a sixth-round draft choice out of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida in the 2007 Major League Baseball draft by the Red Sox. He was heading for Florida Atlantic University before he was drafted and signed with a $325,000 signing bonus. He played in the Red Sox organization with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox, Greenville Drive, Salem Red Sox and the Portland Sea Dogs. Rizzo hit 12 home runs in 2009. In 2010, he hit a combined .260 with an on-base percentage (OBP) of .334 and a slugging percentage (SLG) of .480 along with 42 doubles, 25 home runs and 100 RBIs between stops at High-A Salem and Double-A Portland. He credited the easing of his swing and making better use of his legs for his power surge.