Anthony Rizzo took a significant step back toward the Yankees on Friday night, potentially putting him in line to return by the first week of September.
Two-plus months after suffering a fracture in his right forearm, the veteran first baseman began a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset in Portland, Maine, going 0-for-1 with a pair of walks and a run scored.
Rizzo is expected to just DH for at least his first four rehab games — the plan is Friday, Sunday, Tuesday and Wednesday — before potentially getting action in the field next weekend.
Manager Aaron Boone said Friday he did not think Rizzo “would need that much time playing the field,” leaving the door open for him to rejoin the Yankees at some point during their road trip through Texas and Chicago in the first week of September.
Anthony Rizzo during his rehab game at Somerset. Courtesy Somerset Patriots
Anthony Rizzo warms up for his rehab game. Courtesy Somerset Patriots“Excited [about] the way he looks and feels,” Boone said before Friday’s 3-0 win over the Rockies at Yankee Stadium. “Just seeing him in the live [batting practice] last week, thought he looked really good. He feels really good, so I think he’s really encouraged.”
Rizzo was not lighting the world on fire at the plate before getting hurt June 16 at Fenway Park — batting .223 with a .630 OPS in 70 games — but his experienced left-handed bat could help down the stretch.
The Yankees got an immediate boost from Ben Rice after he was called up to replace Rizzo, but the rookie has cooled off over the last month while DJ LeMahieu has also continued to struggle.
Since Rizzo went down, Yankees first basemen have combined for an OPS of .574, which was the second-lowest mark in the majors during that span.
Anthony Rizzo could be back in the Yankees lineup in early September after suffering a fracture in his right forearm earlier this season. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Anthony Rizzo does rehab on the field during batting practice at Yankee Stadium on July 23, 2024. JASON SZENES FOR THE NEW YORK POST
Clarke Schmidt (lat strain) also began a rehab assignment Friday night with Somerset, throwing 3 ²/₃ innings on 48 pitches while striking out six, walking one and giving up a solo home run for the only hit he allowed.
“Really happy to feel healthy and stuff was really good tonight, so definitely a big step,” Schmidt told reporters, adding that he expects to make his next start Wednesday.
The right-hander has been out since May 27, but is hoping to rejoin the Yankees rotation in September after posting a 2.52 ERA in 11 starts before getting hurt.
Clarke Schmidt on the mound for Double-A Somerset. Courtesy Somerset Patriots
Clarke Schmidt made a rehab outing in the minors. Courtesy Somerset PatriotsThe rotation is shorthanded after Luis Gil landed on the IL on Wednesday with a lower back sprain, but the right-hander played catch Friday.
Will Warren, called up as Gil’s injury replacement, will start Saturday’s game against the Rockies, giving Marcus Stroman an extra day of rest before he starts Sunday.
Jon Berti (calf strain) was supposed to join Schmidt and Rizzo in beginning his rehab assignment Friday with Somerset, but his flight to Portland on Thursday night was canceled and he then had issues with his bags making it there Friday.
So instead, the infielder was set to work out there Friday and then start his rehab assignment Saturday.
Dylan Crews, the No. 3 prospect in baseball by MLB.com, will be called up by the Nationals on Monday to make his MLB debut against the Yankees, according to multiple reports Friday.
