Joe Rizzo (baseball)

Joseph Rizzo (born March 31, 1998) is an American professional baseball third baseman who is a free agent.

Joe Rizzo
Free agent
Third baseman
Born: (1998-03-31) March 31, 1998
Hackensack, New Jersey
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

Amateur career

Rizzo attended Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia, where he played baseball.[1] Prior to his junior year, he committed to play college baseball at the University of South Carolina.[2] As a junior in 2015, Rizzo batted .606 with seven home runs and was named the Virginia 6A Player of the Year.[3][4] In 2016, his senior year, he hit .392 with four home runs.[5] After his senior year, he was selected by the Seattle Mariners in the second round of the 2016 Major League Baseball draft.[6][7] He signed for $1.75 million.[8]

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

After signing with the Mariners, Rizzo made his professional debut with the Rookie-level Arizona League Mariners, batting .291 with two home runs and 21 RBIs over 39 games.[9][10] In 2017, Rizzo spent a majority of the season with the Clinton LumberKings of the Single–A Midwest League before earning a promotion to the Modesto Nuts of the High–A California League at the end of the season. Over 115 games, he slashed .251/.349/.344 with seven home runs and 51 RBIs.[11] He returned to Modesto in 2018, earning All-Star honors while hitting .241 with four home runs and 55 RBIs over 123 games.[12][13] Rizzo returned for Modesto for the third straight year in 2019, once again earning All-Star honors while slashing .295/.354/.423 with ten home runs and 63 RBIs over 129 games, earning the Alvin Davis “Mr. Mariner” Award.[14][15]

Rizzo did not play a minor league game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the minor league season caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.[16] Rizzo was assigned to the Arkansas Travelers of the Double-A Central for the 2021 season, slashing .253/.330/.400 with 12 home runs and sixty RBIs over 105 games.[17] He returned to Arkansas for the 2022 season.[18] Over 118 games, he hit .277 with 21 home runs, 69 RBIs, and thirty doubles.[19] Rizzo elected free agency following the season on November 10, 2022.[20]

Miami Marlins

On January 5, 2023, Rizzo signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins.[21] In 43 games split between the Double–A Pensacola Blue Wahoos and Triple–A Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, he hit .203/.276/.313 with 3 home runs and 22 RBI.

Detroit Tigers

On June 8, 2023, Rizzo was traded to the Detroit Tigers.[22] In 38 games for the Triple–A Toledo Mud Hens, he batted .299/.358/.518 with 6 home runs and 28 RBI.[23] On August 15, Rizzo was released by the Tigers organization.[24]

References
  1. "Sophomore star Joe Rizzo leads Oakton baseball". Oakton Outlook. 2014-06-11. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  2. Roetman, Jon (2014-08-14). "Oakton's Rizzo Committed to South Carolina". connectionnewspapers.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  3. "Mariners select INF Joe Rizzo 50th overall in the 2016 MLB Draft". MLB.com. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  4. Facinoli, Dave (2016-06-10). "Oakton's Joe Rizzo picked in round two of Major League draft | Sports". insidenova.com. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  5. "MLB draft: Oakton's Joe Rizzo, Flint Hill's Khalil Lee lead local prospects". The Washington Post. 2016-06-08. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  6. "Mariners select hard-hitting high school infielder Joe Rizzo with second-round draft pick". The Seattle Times. 2016-06-09. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  7. Compton, Natalie B. "Breaking News, World, US, DC News and Analysis". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  8. Johns, Greg (June 17, 2016). "Mariners agree with draft pick Joe Rizzo". MLB.com. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  9. Nishino, Ryota (2020-12-19). "The Seattle Mariners get a big win since Joe Rizzo will remain with the club". SoDo Mojo. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  10. "Mariners' top pick Kyle Lewis pegged as top power-hitting prospect". The Olympian. 2016-10-22. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  11. Doyle, Joe E. (2019-08-12). "Joe Rizzo's Prospect Star is "absolutely about to take off"". Lookout Landing. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  12. Glaser, Kyle (20 June 2018). "Evan White, Mariners Prospects Shine In Cal League All-Star Game". www.baseballamerica.com.
  13. "Minor League baseball roundup | Sports". insidenova.com. September 18, 2018. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  14. "Eight Players Named to the 2019 All-Star Game | Nuts". milb.com. 2019-06-07. Retrieved 2020-12-13.
  15. "Press release: Mariners' 2019 Minor League award winners". MLB.com. September 10, 2019. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  16. Adler, David (2020-07-01). "2020 Minor League Baseball season canceled". MLB.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  17. "Mariners announce minor league rosters for 2021 season". The News Tribune. 2021-04-30. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  18. "Mariners Player Development - Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  19. "Joe Rizzo Stats, Fantasy & News". milb.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  20. Pontes, Geoff (13 November 2022). "2022-23 Minor League Free Agents For All 30 MLB Teams". www.baseballamerica.com. Retrieved 2022-12-07.
  21. "Transactions".
  22. "Transactions". MLB.com.
  23. "Joe Rizzo: Cut by Tigers". cbssports.com. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
  24. "Tigers promote catching prospect to Toledo; infielder released". mlive.com. 15 August 2023. Retrieved August 15, 2023.
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