Former New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo, who retired after the 2024 season, has been invited to join Team Italy for the 2026 World Baseball Classic. General manager Ned Colletti revealed that Rizzo is considering the offer, potentially returning to the field in a limited role. This comes after Rizzo's storied MLB career, highlighted by a World Series win with the Chicago Cubs in 2016.
Anthony Rizzo's baseball journey may extend beyond his recent retirement. The 36-year-old, whose grandparents emigrated from Ciminna, Sicily, previously represented Italy in the 2013 World Baseball Classic. There, he batted 4-for-17 with five walks and six RBIs across five games, including a two-run double in the ninth inning that secured a win against Mexico. Italy advanced to the second round before losing to Puerto Rico.
Team Italy general manager Ned Colletti, a former Dodgers executive, contacted Rizzo months ago about joining the roster for the 2026 tournament. "I spoke to him months ago, and he said, ‘Let me think about it,’" Colletti said on WSCR’s “Inside The Clubhouse.” He added, "Even if it’s a pinch-hitting role or something like that, I’d love to have you." Colletti emphasized preparation: "You gotta prepare to do it, you can’t just show up – and he knows that."
Rizzo's last MLB appearance was in Game 5 of the 2024 World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, after a regular season with the Yankees where he hit .228/.301/.335 with eight home runs and 35 RBIs in 92 games. Injuries plagued his final years, including a broken arm. After limited offseason interest, Rizzo was honored by the Cubs at Wrigley Field in September 2025, marking his retirement.
"The last couple years I was banged up a little bit, but last year after breaking my arm I told my parents, I told my wife, ‘Hey, enjoy this ride,’" Rizzo reflected. "When it didn’t really pick up, and the right opportunities didn’t arise … it was kind of decided early on that if I didn’t get the right opportunity, it was probably going to be it, and I couldn’t be happier."
Rizzo's career peaked with the Cubs, where he played 10 seasons, earning three All-Star nods, four Gold Gloves, and slashing .272/.372/.489 with 242 home runs and 784 RBIs. He helped end Chicago's 108-year World Series drought in 2016. Traded to the Yankees in 2021, he spent three and a half seasons there.
The 2026 World Baseball Classic runs from March 5 to 17 across Miami, Houston, San Juan, and Tokyo, featuring 20 teams. Notably, the Cubs will host Team Italy in an exhibition on March 3 at Sloan Park in Mesa, Arizona, offering fans a potential glimpse of Rizzo in action.
