Anthony Rizzo, a celebrated former first baseman for the Chicago Cubs, recently caught a home run ball hit by a current Cubs player at Wrigley Field, marking the second occurrence of such an event. The incident took place during a game against the Minnesota Twins when Cubs first baseman Michael Busch hit a ball into the right field bleachers. Rizzo, present as a fan, managed to retrieve the ball.
This remarkable coincidence mirrors an event from the previous season when Rizzo also caught a home run ball hit by another player at his former home ballpark. The odds of this happening once are considered low, making its repetition particularly noteworthy.
Rizzo played ten seasons with the Cubs, including their 2016 World Series victory, which ended a 108-year championship drought for the team. He was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2007 and made his MLB debut with the San Diego Padres in 2011. After his tenure in Chicago, Rizzo was traded to the New York Yankees in 2021 and played his final MLB season in 2024. The article notes that fans might now keep an eye out for Rizzo's continued improbable home run ball catches.