Anthony Rizzo

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #1 prospect in 2012
  The Red Sox paid an above-slot $325,000 bonus to sign Rizzo as a sixth-round pick in 2007, and he made his full-season debut in style by hitting .373 in 21 games at low Class A the following April. His season came to a sudden halt when he was diagnosed with limited stage classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, but doctors declared him cancer free that November and he bounced back to hit .297/.368/.461 at two Class A stops in 2009. He emerged as Boston's top offensive prospect in 2010, when he spent most of the year in Double-A and swatted 42 doubles and 25 homers. The Red Sox dealt him--along with 2008 and '09 first-rounders Casey Kelly and Reymond Fuentes--to acquire Adrian Gonzalez that December. Rizzo led all Triple-A players with a 1.159 OPS through June 5, when San Diego called him up at age 21 because it had seen enough of Jorge Cantu and Brad Hawpe at first base. Rizzo went 3-for-7 with a double, triple, homer and four walks in his first three big league games, but he soon fell on hard times and went back to Tucson on July 21 having gone 11-for-91 (.121) in San Diego. He went on to rank second in the Pacific Coast League in slugging (.652) and fifth in hitting (.331) before returning to the Padres and starting eight games in September. He's not Gonzalez, but Rizzo isn't far away from succeeding him as the most dangerous hitter in San Diego's lineup. To do so, he'll have to make adjustments after big league pitchers were able to exploit the length and uppercut in his swing with quality fastballs up in the zone. He needs to stay on top of the ball and level out his stroke to make more contact and hit more line drives. Rizzo started to pull inside pitches for power in Double-A, and he hit 23 of his 27 homers in 2011 to right or right-center field--but that's the most difficult way for a power hitter to thrive at spacious Petco Park. Strikeouts always will be a byproduct of Rizzo's plus power, though he led all big league rookies with at least 100 plate appearances with a 14 percent walk rate. Like many lefty power hitters, Rizzo struggles versus southpaws--he hit .245/.312/.409 against them in Double-A and Triple-A--but his strike-zone awareness should enable him to hit for a decent average. He receives solid to plus grades for his defense at first base, though he's a below-average runner, as expected for a player his size. Rizzo could make the Padres with a strong spring-training performance, but more likely San Diego will send the 22-year-old back to Triple-A to work out the kinks in his swing. Once he does so, he could develop into a .270 hitter capable of producing 30 homers and a healthy amount of walks on an annual basis.
• 
  Ranked San Diego Padres #2 prospect in 2011
  Rizzo was hitting .373 in low Class A in April 2008 when he was diagnosed with limited stage classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. After missing the rest of that season to get treatment, he has been cancer-free. He established himself as the best offensive prospect in the Red Sox system prior to his inclusion in Adrian Gonzalez trade. Rizzo generates plus power with strength and leverage. He drives the ball well to the opposite field and last season began pulling pitches for home runs. With his willingness to use the entire field and his patience, he should hit for a solid average and draw some walks, though he needs to refine his two-strike approach. He also must make adjustments against lefthanders after hitting .217/.290/.380 against them in 2010. Managers rated him the best defensive first baseman in the Eastern League, as he has smooth actions and does a good job of picking throws out of the dirt. He can get nonchalant in the field, however, which led to 15 errors last season. He's a below-average runner but moves well for his size. With Gonzalez out of the picture in San Diego, Rizzo projects as the organization's first baseman of the future. He'll spend much of 2011 in Triple-A and could push for a big league job the following season.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #8 prospect in 2010
  Rizzo signed for an above-slot $325,000 bonus as a sixth-rounder in 2007 and was hitting .373 at Greenville the next April when he learned he had limited stage classical Hodgkin's lymphoma. He missed the rest of the season to get treatment. With his cancer in remission, he returned to hit .297/.368/.461 and conquer high Class A as a teenager in 2009. Rizzo has a smooth lefthanded stroke, keeps the bat in the zone for a long time and smokes liners to all fields. He already shows doubles power and should have 20- homer pop as he turns on more pitches. Managers rated him as the high Class A Carolina League's best defensive first baseman in 2009, and he has soft hands and a strong arm. His swing can get long, and when it does, pitchers can tie Rizzo up inside with good fastballs. He's a below-average runner whose speed could rate as a 35 on the 20-80 scouting scale as he gets older, though he does move well at first base. Rizzo will play one level behind Lars Anderson in 2010. They're competing to be the Red Sox' first baseman of the future, with Anderson having more power but Rizzo offering a more fluid swing, more consistent approach and better defense.
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #22 prospect in 2009
  Rizzo was hitting .373 as an 18-year-old in low Class A when he was sidelined by what was thought to be a kidney infection in late April. Instead, he learned that he had limited stage classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, one of the more treatable forms of cancer. He missed the rest of season to get treatment, though he was able to hit in instructional league between chemotherapy sessions, which were scheduled to end in November. His cancer is in remission and he's expected to be able to fully participate in spring training. After signing for an above-slot $325,000 as a sixth-rounder in 2007, Rizzo enthused the Red Sox with his advanced approach at the plate. He continued to draw raves in 2008 before he became ill. His swing is geared more toward left-center at this point, and as he learns to turn on more pitches, he could hit 20 or more homers per season. Though he's a below-average runner, Rizzo shows agility and soft hands at first base. Also a pitcher in high school, he has a stronger arm than most first basemen. Rizzo's makeup and work ethic are also assets and should aid in his recovery. Boston won't push him but cautiously hopes he'll be able to open the season back in Greenville.
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  Ranked Boston Red Sox #17 prospect in 2008
  No one with the Red Sox is quite comparing Rizzo to Lars Anderson yet, but for the second year in a row, they're excited about a high school first baseman out of the most recent draft. Rizzo had performed well with wood bats on the showcase circuit, yet his $325,000 price tag caused him to slide in the 2007 draft. Boston anted up on the Aug. 15 signing deadline and got more than it bargained for. They knew he had raw strength and usable power, but they didn't realize he had such an advanced approach. Rizzo surprised them even more with his better-than-expected agility at first base. Though he's easily a below-average runner, he has soft hands and moves wells around the bag. He also pitched in high school, so his arm is an asset at first base. In the Red Sox' minds, getting Rizzo more than makes up for not signing Alabama high school first baseman Hunter Morris, their second-round pick. They like Rizzo's maturity, too, and think he'll be able to handle low Class A in 2008.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #5 prospect in 2012
  No. 5 on this list in 2011, before the Padres traded him to the Cubs for Andrew Cashner, Rizzo has hit .336/.405/.670 in two PCL stints. Unlike a year ago, when he was unable to carry that momentum after a big league callup, he continued to mash after summoned to Chicago. Rizzo hits with a low hand position that tends to lead to an uppercut swing, but that hasn't diminished his ability to hit for average and also creates easy plus power. He controls the strike zone very well, has excellent strength in his forearms and wrists and has a compact stroke. He's a below-average runner but is good around the first-base bag and has soft hands.
• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #5 prospect in 2011
  One of a trio of prospects the Red Sox sent to the Padres for Adrian Gonzalez, Rizzo was one of the most devastating hitters in Triple-A this season. He ranked second in the league with a .652 slugging percentage and might have led the PCL in homers and RBIs had he not spent most of June and July in San Diego. Though managers rated Rizzo as the league's best power prospect, he still has some adjustments to make if he's going to be more consistent and hit for a solid average. His swing can get loopy, a flaw that big league pitchers were able to exploit. He isn't afraid to use the opposite field or hit with two strikes, he hangs in well against lefthanders and he draws a good amount of walks. Rizzo can be a smooth defender at first base but sometimes loses focuses, leading to errors. He's a below-average runner, as expected for a player his size.
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  Ranked Eastern League #18 prospect in 2010
  Rizzo and Reading first baseman Matt Rizzotti have similar names and similar power. Rizzotti, who hit .361/.452/.635 has a future as a slugger but is limited defensively. Rizzo is a better athlete and defender and he's three years younger, making him the better prospect. Rizzo has leverage and strength in his swing and plenty of raw power, his offensive calling card. He was more pull-happy this year than he was in previous seasons. He isn't afraid to go deep in counts, but he has a few holes in his swing and will always strike out some. Managers voted Rizzo the EL's best defensive first baseman despite his 15 errors. He has smooth actions and can pick the ball out of the dirt, but he lets bad at-bats affect his play in the field.
• 
  Ranked Carolina League #12 prospect in 2009
  Rizzo missed most of the 2008 season after being diagnosed with limited stage classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, a treatable form of cancer. After finishing chemotherapy treatments in the offseason, Rizzo began the year in low Class A Greenville but advanced to Salem by late June. Rizzo has a short, compact swing and routinely centers the ball. His bat stays in the hitting zone for a long time, though his swing occasionally gets long, which allows pitchers to beat him on the inner half. He has a solid approach at the plate, showing patience and the ability to use the whole field. He didn't show much power this year, though he should grow into more as he matures. A below-average runner, Rizzo is an outstanding defensive first baseman with good hands, footwork and actions around the bag. "I'll take him over Lars Anderson," said a NL scout, alluding to the Double-A first baseman Baseball America ranked as Boston's No. 1 prospect before the season. "Anderson shows more power at this stage, but this is a young kid who can hit and is a much better defender."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #47 prospect in 2012
• Ranked Baseball America's #75 prospect in 2011

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The Red Sox paid an above-slot $325,000 bonus to sign Rizzo as a sixth-round pick in 2007, and he made his full-season debut in style by hitting .373 in 21 games at low Class A the following April. His season came to a sudden halt when he was diagnosed with limited stage classical Hodgkin's lymphoma, but doctors declared him cancer free that November and he bounced back to hit .297/.368/.461 at two Class A stops in 2009. He emerged as Boston's top offensive prospect in 2010, when he spent most of the year in Double-A and swatted 42 doubles and 25 homers. The Red Sox dealt him--along with 2008 and '09 first-round picks Casey Kelly and Reymond Fuentes--to acquire all-star Adrian Gonzalez that December. It was no coincidence that then-Padres assistant GM Jason McLeod was the Boston scouting director who drafted all three players. Rizzo led all Triple-A batters with a 1.159 OPS through June 5, when San Diego called him up at age 21 because it had seen enough of Jorge Cantu and Brad Hawpe at first base. He went 3-for-7 with a double, triple, homer and four walks in his first three big league games, but he soon fell on hard times and went back to Tucson on July 21 having gone 11-for-91 (.121) in San Diego. He went on to rank second in the Pacific Coast League in slugging (.652) and fifth in hitting (.331) before returning to the Padres and starting eight games in September. Scouting Report: He's not Gonzalez, but Rizzo isn't far away from succeeding him as the most dangerous hitter in San Diego's lineup. To do so, he'll have to make adjustments after big league pitchers were able to exploit the length and uppercut in his swing with quality fastballs up in the zone. He needs to stay on top of the ball and level out his stroke to make more contact and hit more line drives. Rizzo started to pull inside pitches for power Double-A, and he hit 23 of his 27 homers in 2011 to right or right-center field--but that's the most difficult way for a power hitter to thrive at spacious Petco Park. Strikeouts always will be a byproduct of Rizzo's plus power, though he led all big league rookies with at least 100 plate appearances with a 14 percent walk rate. Like many lefty power hitters, Rizzo struggles versus southpaws--he hit .245/.312/.409 against them in Double-A and Triple-A--but his strike-zone awareness should enable him to hit for a decent average. He receives solid to plus grades for his defense at first base, where he displays smooth actions and good arm strength. He still needs to improve his defensive consistency, however, after committing 30 errors in the last two seasons. He's a below-average runner, as expected for a player his size. The Future: Rizzo could make the Padres with a strong spring-training performance, but more likely San Diego will send the 22-year-old back to Triple-A to work out the kinks in his swing. Once he does so, he could develop into a .270 hitter capable of producing 30 homers and a healthy amount of walks on an annual basis. Jesus Guzman, who went from minor league free agent to San Diego's top offensive performer in 2011, will keep first base warm until Rizzo is ready.