Chicago Cubs’ Jed Hoyer sees a leader in Anthony Rizzo – MLB News
The Chicago Cubs' general manager Jed Hoyer stated on Monday, July 16, that he sees a leader in Anthony Rizzo, the first baseman who has been faring impressively ever since his arrival in the team.
However, very few people might know that aside from being an incredibly forceful slugger, Anthony Rizzo has battled limited stage classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, a form of cancer that actually originates from white blood cells.
The Chicago Cubs' first baseman, Anthony Rizzo, has nonetheless remained in unwavering spirit and strength. That fighting spirit, which is of a tremendously cultivated kind, shows he indeed has a long way to go.
"Overcoming cancer was incredibly impressive," Hoyer said, "But I think it's a mistake if you just allude to his makeup that he overcame cancer. He's a very strong person, I think he's a leader and he's someone who can help put this organization and our team on the right path as far as our culture. He's a very impressive individual."
The team had put him in the third place at the end of last month. Rizzo has played 15 games since then, hitting an awe-inspiring .356 with no less than 10 RBIs to his credit and four homers coupled with four doubles.
Since his arrival, the Cubs have won 11 of 15 games, losing only four. Which, in effect, means he has been a source of success for the club. The player with his fighting spirit has radically altered the outlook of the offence, something that even the sharpest critic cannot deny.
The 22-year-old Rizzo’s battle with cancer remained as a defining event in his life. He did not give up and fought bravely when the cancer was diagnosed.
It was in 2008 when his brother John Rizzo noticed the swelling up of his brother’s ankles.
"I was with him in Greenville, and he didn't tell me what was going on, that his ankles were swelling up," John Rizzo said. His brother commented despite that, Rizzo wanted to play and he did in the end.
With his recent surge in the game and his grappling with cancer, show that Rizzo is indeed the best thing to happen to the Cubs.
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