The 2020 and 2021 seasons were somewhat discrete for Anthony Rizzo, at least from a power standpoint.
He spent the whole 2020 and half of the 2021 campaign with the Chicago Cubs, before being traded to the New York Yankees last year around the deadline.
In both years, Rizzo’s slugging percentage failed to crack .450.
It was definitely a downgrade for a hitter who had five .500+ slugging seasons in the mid-2010s, the last one coming in 2019.
He appeared to be declining, losing his power and settling in as more of an average-hitting first baseman.
But he has shown in 2022 that his left-handed bat might still have something left in the tank.
“Anthony Rizzo now has 20 home runs this season. He has played 73 games this season, which is the least amount of games it took him to hit 20 home runs in his career,” StatMuse tweeted.
Anthony Rizzo now has 20 home runs this season.
He has played 73 games this season, which is the least amount of games it took him to hit 20 home runs in his career.@YankeesMuse pic.twitter.com/DePKPXlhBy
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 28, 2022
Rizzo Is Having A Resurgent Season In The Power Department
Rizzo hit his 20th long-ball of the campaign on Monday against the Oakland Athletics, helping the Yankees get another victory.
It’s definitely refreshing to see Rizzo return to his slugging ways, even stronger than ever before.
This year, he is only hitting .222, but batting average doesn’t explain just how good his offense has been to the Yankees this year.
He is slashing .222/.337/.498 with the 20 homers, 44 runs, and 50 RBI in the middle of the powerful Yankees lineup.
He may not have the highest batting average, but walks and home runs are very much parts of his game, the ones driving up his offensive profile.
His swing is actually built for Yankee Stadium’s short porch, and he has a legitimate shot at hitting 40 homers for the first time in his career.
It would be a really cool achievement for the 32-year-old.
NEXT: Yankees Made History With A Rough Weekend On Offense