NEWSLETTER
The other day, I saw references on Twitter that Anthony Rizzo was taking batting practice right-handed, and hitting – as Theo Epstein would call them – tanks. Given Rizzo’s baseball aptitude and strength, maybe it’s no surprise that he can hit the ball out of the ballpark in BP batting a way that, you know, he doesn’t actually bat.
But does he want to show off that power from the right side … in a game?
Rizzo joked with the Tribune that he’d love to switch-hit, something he did in little league, but he knows the game is too hard for him to actually pull it off. Of course, he couldn’t help but leave open the possibility that if it *did* happen, then just maybe he could send one to the seats.
Doubt him? Hey, you doubted him at the top of the order, and Rizzo turned out to be History’s Greatest Leadoff Hitter, yielding his spot only to save the annals of history from a series of annihilated record books.
Then again, when he can do this from the left side like he did last night, even when choking up with two strikes, maybe he should just stay over there (via @MLB):
Never a doubt in @ARizzo44’s mind. pic.twitter.com/kGXIhNJsZW
— MLB (@MLB) July 28, 2017
That was 102 mph off the bat, and 424 feet way out to right for Rizzo’s 24th homer of the year. For anyone who doubted Rizzo would be his usual excellent self when all was said and done after a deep slump earlier this year, consider that his walk rate is up, his strikeout rate is down, and his ISO is up. He’s a better, more powerful hitter this year.
Oh, and also, about Rizzo becoming a switch hitter? There’s the matter of him absolutely destroying left-handed pitching this year: .278/.413/.598. Heck – he’s just a bad man no matter what kind of pitcher he’s facing, and probably whatever side of the plate he decides to hit from.
You talkin’ to Rizz? You talkin’ to Rizz?
