Anthony Rizzo tests positive for COVID-19, becomes fourth Yankees player to test positive this week

Rizzo's move to the COVID-19-related injured list also marks a franchise record 40th IL assignment this season

Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo has been placed on the injured list after testing positive for COVID-19, manager Aaron Boone told reporters on Sunday. The positive test means that Rizzo will be placed in quarantine for at least 10 days. To take Rizzo's spot on the active roster, the Yankees have activated first baseman Luke Voit from the IL. 

Rizzo has been a key part of the Yankees' recent surge in the standings since they acquired him from the Cubs leading up to the July 30 trade deadline. In nine games for the Yankees, eight of which have been wins, Rizzo has batted .281/.400/.563 with three home runs. Overall in his age-31 season, the pending free agent has an OPS+ of 119 in 92 games for the Cubs and Yankees. 

In June, Rizzo, a cancer survivor, disclosed that he had not received the vaccine for COVID-19 and said he was "taking more time to see the data" on the available vaccines. 

The Yankees have now had three separate COVID outbreaks this year despite being among the teams to hit the 85 percent vaccination threshold. Most of the coaching staff tested positive in May, then six players, including Aaron Judge, tested positive right after the All-Star break in July. Earlier this week, Gerrit Cole, Jordan Montgomery, and Gary Sánchez tested positive. Rizzo is the Yankees' 12th player to go on the COVID-19 IL this season, and his IL stint marks the club's 40th IL assignment this season, a franchise record.

As for Voit, he's struggled in 2021 after establishing himself as a reliable power presence in the Yankee lineup over the prior three seasons. This year, Voit in 29 games has batted .241/.328/.370 with just three home runs. He'd been sidelined since the middle of July with left knee inflammation. Voit has also dealt with torn left medial meniscus and an oblique injury this season. 

The loss of the hot-hitting Rizzo comes as the Yankees have won five in a row. Since the All-Star break, the Yankees have the best record (15-6) in the league for that span. They open play Sunday in third place in the AL East and 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Rays. In the AL wild card race, they trail the A's by just 1 1/2 games for the second spot.