Career Timeline of Anthony Rizzo: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: July 19, 2026

Discover the career path of Anthony Rizzo, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Anthony Rizzo is a prominent Major League Baseball first baseman known for his leadership and consistent performance. After being drafted by the Boston Red Sox, he gained significant recognition during his long tenure with the Chicago Cubs, where he played a pivotal role in the team's historic 2016 World Series championship. A three-time All-Star, Rizzo is widely respected for his defensive prowess, having earned multiple Gold Glove Awards, and his offensive contributions as a reliable power hitter. Beyond his on-field achievements, he is highly regarded for his charitable work through the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation, which supports families battling cancer, a cause close to him following his own successful recovery from Hodgkin lymphoma early in his career. Currently playing for the New York Yankees, Rizzo remains one of the most recognizable and respected figures in professional baseball.

Sections (4)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition

August 1983: Mel Hall's Cubs Rookie Milestone

In August 1983, Mel Hall set a record by hitting nine home runs, a benchmark for most home runs by a Chicago Cubs rookie in a single calendar month that Anthony Rizzo was compared against during his own successful July rookie performance.

2007: Red Sox Draft Selection and Professional Debut

In 2007, the Boston Red Sox selected Anthony Rizzo in the sixth round of the MLB draft out of high school. He signed with the team for a $325,000 bonus and began his professional minor league career with the Gulf Coast League Red Sox at age 17.

2008: Promotion to Greenville Drive

During the 2008 season, 18-year-old Anthony Rizzo played for the Greenville Drive in class A ball, where he recorded a .373 batting average and 11 RBIs over 83 at-bats.

2009: Minor League Power Development

In 2009, Anthony Rizzo continued his progression through the minor leagues, successfully hitting 12 home runs throughout the season.

December 6, 2010: Trade to the San Diego Padres

On December 6, 2010, Anthony Rizzo was traded by the Boston Red Sox to the San Diego Padres alongside Casey Kelly, Reymond Fuentes, and Eric Patterson in exchange for first baseman Adrián González.

2010: Breakout Performance in Salem and Portland

Throughout 2010, Rizzo saw a significant increase in production while playing for High-A Salem and Double-A Portland, finishing with 25 home runs and 100 RBIs, which he attributed to mechanical adjustments in his swing.

May 2011: Debate Over Rizzo's Major League Debut

In May 2011, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported that Anthony Rizzo's debut in Major League Baseball might be strategically delayed by the San Diego Padres due to financial considerations involving salary arbitration eligibility, known as the 'Super Two' exception, alongside the organization's stated desire for him to gain more experience against left-handed pitchers.

June 9, 2011: Major League Baseball Debut

On June 9, 2011, Anthony Rizzo made his major league debut with the San Diego Padres against the Washington Nationals, recording a triple and scoring a run in a 7-3 victory.

July 21, 2011: Demotion to Triple-A

On July 21, 2011, Anthony Rizzo was demoted back to the Triple-A level following a difficult initial stint in the major leagues where he struggled with a .143 batting average.

2011: MLB Debut

In 2011, Anthony Rizzo made his official debut in Major League Baseball as a member of the San Diego Padres.

January 6, 2012: Anthony Rizzo Traded to Chicago Cubs

On January 6, 2012, the San Diego Padres traded Anthony Rizzo and pitcher Zach Cates to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for pitcher Andrew Cashner and outfielder Kyung-Min Na in a transaction orchestrated by Cubs general manager Jed Hoyer.

2012: Call-up to the Chicago Cubs

During the 2012 season, Anthony Rizzo performed exceptionally well with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs, recording a .342 batting average, 23 home runs, and 62 RBIs, leading to his recall by the Chicago Cubs on June 26, 2012, to bolster the team's struggling offense.

2012: Projected Starting Role

Entering 2012, team management initially projected Anthony Rizzo to be the starting first baseman for the San Diego Padres.

May 12, 2013: Contract Extension and Awards Nominations

On May 12, 2013, Anthony Rizzo signed a seven-year contract extension with the Chicago Cubs worth $41 million. During this period, he was recognized as a finalist for both the National Heart and Hustle Award and the Roberto Clemente Award, and he achieved a 2nd place finish for the Gold Glove award for first basemen.

2015: 2015 Major League Baseball Season Milestones

During the 2015 season, Anthony Rizzo achieved several career milestones, including his second consecutive All-Star Game appearance, his debut in the Home Run Derby, and reaching the 100 home run and 300 RBI marks. He also led the league in hit-by-pitch instances, joined the exclusive 30HR-30HBP club, placed 4th in NL MVP voting, and received the MLBPAA Heart and Hustle Award.

2015: Recipient of Heart & Hustle Award

In 2015, Anthony Rizzo was recognized for his outstanding performance and dedication on the field by receiving the Heart & Hustle Award.

2016: Anthony Rizzo's Historic 2016 Season and All-Star Selection

In 2016, Anthony Rizzo began as the starting first baseman for the National League in the All-Star game after securing the most fan votes. Throughout the 2016 season, he achieved significant milestones, including becoming the first left-handed player in Cubs history to record over 40 doubles and 30 home runs in a single year, finishing with 32 home runs and 43 doubles. His performance earned him a Gold Glove Award, a fourth-place finish in the National League MVP voting, and nominations for the Marvin Miller Man of the Year and Roberto Clemente Awards.

2016: World Series Victory and Award Sweep

In 2016, Anthony Rizzo led the Chicago Cubs to their first World Series title since 1908, while also earning multiple accolades including the Silver Slugger, Platinum Glove, Fielding Bible Award, Wilson Defensive Player of the Year, and Esurance MLB Awards for social media and defensive play.

2016: World Series Championship Victory

In 2016, Anthony Rizzo played a pivotal role in leading the Chicago Cubs to win the World Series championship.

April 10, 2018: Rizzo placed on disabled list

On April 10, 2018, Anthony Rizzo was placed on the disabled list for the first time in his Major League Baseball career as a result of a back injury.

2018: 2018 Season Performance and Gold Glove Award

During the 2018 season, Anthony Rizzo maintained a .283 batting average with 25 home runs and 101 RBIs across 153 games, while also ranking third in the major leagues with 20 hit-by-pitch occurrences. He concluded the 2018 season by earning his second career Gold Glove Award, tying in votes with Freddie Freeman.

2019: 2019 MLB Season Performance and Gold Glove Award

During the 2019 MLB season, Anthony Rizzo maintained a strong offensive performance with a .293 batting average, 27 home runs, and 94 RBIs, while also leading the league in times hit by a pitch with 27. Additionally, he was recognized for his defensive excellence by receiving his third career Gold Glove Award in 2019.

2020: 2020 MLB Season Performance and Gold Glove Award

During the shortened 2020 MLB season, Anthony Rizzo played 58 games with a .222/.342/.414 slash line, 11 home runs, 24 RBIs, and 3 stolen bases, additionally earning his fourth Gold Glove Award, which marked his third consecutive win.

July 29, 2021: Trade to the New York Yankees

On July 29, 2021, Anthony Rizzo was traded from the Chicago Cubs to the New York Yankees in a deal that also included cash considerations in exchange for prospects Kevin Alcántara and Alexander Vizcaíno.

2021: Trade to the New York Yankees

In 2021, after spending a decade with the Chicago Cubs, Anthony Rizzo was traded to the New York Yankees.

2021: Final Season of Contract with the Chicago Cubs

In 2021, the Chicago Cubs exercised the final year of Anthony Rizzo's seven-year contract, resulting in a salary payment of $16.5 million for that season.

2024: Final Professional Season

The year 2024 marked Anthony Rizzo's third season with the New York Yankees, which also served as his final professional season and saw his last appearance in the World Series.