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Joe Rizzo (baseball)

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Joe Rizzo
Free agent
Third baseman
Born: (1998-03-31) March 31, 1998 (age 26)
Hackensack, New Jersey, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right

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

Early life

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Rizzo was born on March 31, 1998, in Hackensack, New Jersey. He attended Oakton High School in Vienna, Virginia, where he played baseball.[1]

Amateur career

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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]

Following 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

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Seattle Mariners

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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

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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

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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

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  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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