Anthony Rizzo’s tenure with the New York Yankees ended abruptly, but the first baseman’s baseball-playing career may not be over just yet.
The World Series champion and former All-Star first baseman has reportedly received interest to play for Team Italy at the upcoming World Baseball Classic, according to GM Ned Colletti.
Rizzo last suited up for a big-league club in 2024, when with the Yankees he slashed .228/.301/.335 while hitting just eight home runs in 92 games while helping them reach the World Series.
Rizzo dealt with symptoms of a concussion sustained that year in May that went undiagnosed for weeks. He announced his retirement in September after not linking up with a team for the 2025 season.
The three-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove winner and 2016 Platinum Glove winner represented Italy at the 2013 WBC. His family hails from Sicily, on the southern tip of Italy, which is why he is eligible to represent the boot-shaped country at the upcoming tournament.
Ned Colletti Has Asked Anthony Rizzo To Play For Italy At WBC
Colletti, the longtime Los Angeles Dodgers executive who helped set up the Dodgers for the Andrew Friedman era, was tabbed as the general manager of Italy earlier this year.
With Colletti and former Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli guiding the 2026 WBC team, Italy is looking for both experience and character on the roster. That’s part of why Colletti reached out to Rizzo.
âI spoke to him months ago, and he said, âLet me think about it,ââ Colletti said on Inside the Clubhouse on 670 The Score in Chicago. âEven if itâs a pinch-hitting role or something like that, Iâd love to have you.”
Team Italy has never finished better than seventh at the tournament. Rizzo is still only 36 and likely could serve in a player-manager role for Italy, since Cervelli is, after all, just three years older than him.
Still, Colletti acknowledged the offer still stands for Rizzo to play, but the clock is ticking. Team Italy has already announced Kansas City Royals star first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino as one of its players, and his teammate Jac Caglianone is reportedly likely to join him but the full roster will be revealed in the next two months.
âWeâll see if he wants to do it,â Colletti said. âYou gotta prepare to do it, you canât just show up â and he knows that.â
Yankees Taking Part In The WBC
The Yankees have long been represented in the WBC, and the 2026 ideation is no exception. Aaron Judge was the first player named to Team USA, and even though he is the only Yankees player on any roster at the moment, left-handed starter Max Fried opted out from the US roster.
Former Yankees closer Clay Holmes will join Judge on the US roster, and former Yankees outfielder Harrison Bader will represent Israel at the tournament.
If Rizzo joins Italy, he’ll be playing in Pool B against Judge and the USA, along with Brazil, Mexico and Great Britain. Their pool-play games will be at Daikin Park in Houston.
Full rosters will be unveiled closer to the tournament’s opening in March, though roster amendments will be made through the tournament due to injuries. Other Yankees like Jazz Chisholm Jr. or Giancarlo Stanton could be chosen to participate.
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