The Chicago Cubs traded stars Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant, Javy Baez, and Craig Kimbrel in an eye-opening fire sale ahead of Friday’s MLB trade deadline.
Rizzo — the heart and soul of the Cubs’ run of success that featured a World Series title in 2016 — was dealt to the New York Yankees on Thursday, and the first baseman made his debut with the Yankees on Friday night against the Miami Marlins at LoanDepot Park (he’s from the Miami area too, adding to what had to be an extremely emotional day).
And with the game scoreless in the top of the sixth inning, Rizzo gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead by cranking a 449-foot solo home run to right field.
The best in the Rizz. pic.twitter.com/ACO6LKcOVy
— New York Yankees (@Yankees) July 31, 2021
(Also, Michael Kay, Rizzo actually *has* paid for “a lot” of meals in Chicago since 2016, as he told The Comeback)
Rizzo reached base in two of his other three plate appearances (single and walk) as well. That’s a heck of a way to start his Yankees career.
It also continues a red-hot stretch for Rizzo, who homered in three of his last four games with the Cubs. And this is all before he gets a taste of the short porch in right field at Yankee Stadium.
Anthony Rizzo has 14 home runs this season, but there's another 10 balls he's hit that would've been gone at Yankee Stadium (per Statcast).
Here they are: pic.twitter.com/msks5HxkeA
— Max Goodman (@MaxTGoodman) July 30, 2021
Rizzo’s efforts helped the Yankees come away with a 3-1 win over the Marlins.
