Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo to pinch hit on Wednesday after collision – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs' manager Dale Sveum said on Wednesday, September 12, that Anthony Rizzo will be available for pinch hitting on Wednesday. His statement came after the first baseman had a collision with the Houston Astros' Brett Wallace during Tuesday’s game played at Minute Maid Park.
The collision was apparently quite hard as Rizzo fell to the ground. But reports later made it clear that he had escaped with only a bruised right shoulder. Dale Sveum, afterwards, said Rizzo was feeling okay afterwards.
"He's just sore on the right side," Sveum said. "Everything else checks out good. No head problems. No leg problems. Just a little bit sore on his upper right side. He took some swings in the cage and he was OK."
Much as the collision seemed big, the team manager acknowledged that he feared something bad might have happened. However, much to the relief of the club and especially the team manager, it was not worrying.
What particularly worried the team manager, as his statement made clear, was the size of Rizzo, being over 200 pound, and 6ft 3in.
"Even watching the replay, there's a lot of things flying around," Sveum said. "A big body hitting the ground pretty hard. I think we're very fortunate that we got away with that one."
Nonetheless, since Rizzo is perfectly fine, the club is now looking forward to the game scheduled for Wednesday, being the finale of three-game series.
Soon after the incident, the team decided to bring Anthony Recker to play at first base. Coming from the Minor Leagues only recently, he was to be replace by an experienced and effective player.
Cubs' manager shed light on the player who has played 27 games at first base in the Minors. That experience can be utilised effectively in the Major League.
"He's played there enough," Sveum said. "He'll give us a right-handed bat in the lineup and we'll see what happens."
With the finale scheduled for Wednesday, it will be interesting to see if Rizzo will be an effective pinch hitter as he has been in regular games.
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