Anthony Rizzo tests positive for COVID-19

August 8th, 2021

NEW YORK -- Yankees first baseman has tested positive for COVID-19, becoming the fourth member of the club to recently test positive, along with Gary Sánchez, Jordan Montgomery and Gerrit Cole, who are currently on the COVID-19-related injured list.

Manager Aaron Boone expressed concern, but he said the team has to keep moving forward. Rizzo is the 12th Yankees player to land on the COVID IL this season, and he will need to miss a minimum of 10 days.

“You gotta roll,” Boone said. “We will continue to do the best we can with it and try to navigate it and deal with it.”

Rizzo, who was acquired in a trade from the Cubs on July 29, has given the Yankees a boost on offense and defense. In nine games with New York, Rizzo is 9-for-32 (.281) with three home runs and six RBIs.

“[Rizzo] has been terrific for us in every way,” Boone said. “I just spoke with him. He is doing all right. He has some symptoms. Obviously, [he is] a little bummed out. Hopefully, he will get rested up and well and be back hopefully sooner rather than later and back to impacting us.”

With Rizzo on the COVID IL, the Yankees activated Luke Voit, who played first base and batted fifth Sunday. Voit went on the IL on July 16 due to left knee inflammation. Last year, Voit led the Majors in home runs with 22.

“I’m really excited to see Luke Voit back here,” Boone said. “He is here ready to go and we know how impactful he can be. I’m looking forward to seeing him in the middle of our lineup. He has felt great for about a week and has been able to get some at-bats [in a rehab assignment]. He is ready to go and excited to be here.”