Cubs Call Up Anthony Rizzo

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 25, 2012 7:50PM

Prized farm prospect Anthony Rizzo will make his debut with the Cubs against the Mets on Tuesday, in what is easily the highlight of the 2012 season at Clark and Addison.

Rizzo left today's game in AAA Iowa after his second at-bat and was already trying to downplay they hype.

“I want to tell them that there’s going to be good times, and there will there be bad times,” Rizzo said after finally learning he’d been promoted to the Chicago Cubs.

“Hopefully there will be times I’m a hero, and there will be times that I’m the villain. “That’s the nature of the game, and that goes for every baseball player.”

Rizzo has been tearing the cover off the ball at Iowa the way White Sox slugger Adam Dunn has been feasting on major league pitching this season, with 23 homers and 62 RBI in 60 games. Rizzo is also hitting .342 with a .408 on-base percentage, .702 slugging percentage and a 1.110 OPS. Originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox, Rizzo was acquired by the Cubs from the Padres Jan. 6, along with starting pitcher Zach Cates in exchange for Cubs starter pitcher Andrew Cashner and outfielder Kyung-Min Na. Rizzo was drafted by now Cubs Gm Jed Hoyer when Hoyer was with the Red Sox, and Hoyer traded for Rizzo when he became San Diego GM. When you have one man shadowing your progress in the minors the way Hoyer has with Rizzo, any expectation is heightened.

Rizzo's Tuesday callup means he won't be facing the Mets' Johan Santana when the Cubs start a series against New York tonight. Instead, Rizzo will face Dillon Gee. His arrival means first baseman Bryan LaHair will likely move to right field, with David shifting to center and Tony Campana riding pine in the dugout.