ANTHONY RIZZO COULD MAKE A COOL COMEBACK

Anthony Rizzo wasn’t just a baseball player in my opinion. He was a presence. The kind of guy who walks into a clubhouse and, without raising his voice, instantly owns the room. Managers trusted him. Teammates leaned on him. Fans believed in him. That’s leadership you can’t fake — and you can’t teach.

For the Chicago Cubs, Rizzo was the spine of an entire era. When that franchise finally exorcised a century of ghosts in 2016, Rizzo wasn’t just part of the story — he was the story. He led by example, by toughness, by accountability. He played through pain, absorbed pressure like a professional shock absorber, and made everyone around him better. Two hundred forty-two home runs. Seven hundred eighty-four RBIs. Four Gold Gloves. Those aren’t just numbers — that’s a résumé built on reliability and respect. The Cubs didn’t just win with Rizzo; they grew up with him.

Then came the Bronx.

And here’s where it gets personal.

When Anthony Rizzo put on pinstripes, it felt right in a way that’s hard to explain unless you’re wired a certain way. As an Italian-American, watching Rizzo lead the Yankees hit different. Italians don’t just value leadership — we feel it. We respect presence. We respect the guy who stands in front of the room, takes responsibility, protects his people, and never hides. Rizzo brought that exact energy to Yankee Stadium.

He didn’t need theatrics. He didn’t need slogans. He showed up. If things got ugly — and in those recent Yankees seasons, and they often did — Rizzo was the adult. The voice. The calm. You could see players gravitate toward him, because real leaders don’t chase attention. Attention finds them.

So, when Rizzo left the Yankees, yeah — it hurt. A lot. Losing talent is one thing. Losing leadership is another. That stings deeper, especially when you know how rare it is. Still, even heartbreak can come with clarity. The time was right. Bodies wear down. Chapters close. And Rizzo, after the 2024 season, chose to walk away on his terms.

But the Italian roots are strong.

Team Italy has come calling for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, and if you understand Italian culture, you understand why this matters. Heritage isn’t a footnote — it’s identity. It’s bloodlines, grandparents, traditions, pride. Rizzo represented Italy back in 2013 through his Sicilian roots, and the idea of doing it one last time clearly carries weight. This wouldn’t be a novelty act. It would be a statement.

Team Italy GM Ned Colletti made it clear this isn’t a ceremonial invite.

“You can’t just show up, and he knows that.”

That’s Rizzo in a nutshell. If he does it, he does it right. Prepared. Committed. Leading.

So now the decision belongs to him: family first, always — but maybe, just maybe, one last chapter. One last clubhouse. One last chance to lead men on a baseball field, this time wearing the colors of his heritage.

Anthony Rizzo has already left an indelible mark on Chicago, New York, and Major League Baseball as a whole. But if his final act comes draped in Italy’s colors, representing where his family came from and everything he stands for?

That wouldn’t just be baseball. That would be legacy... and I love it.