New York Yankees fans couldn’t be blamed for a sense of déjà vu this Spring Training. For the past few seasons, injuries have been a grim subplot to the team’s story, and star first baseman Anthony Rizzo seems perpetually at the center of it. The latest episode, a tight Lat muscle suffered mere days before Opening Day 2024, reignites concerns about the veteran’s long-term health and reliability. Is this a concerning pattern for the Bombers—or merely a streak of bad luck?

While Rizzo insists this recent setback is minor and he’ll be ready for Houston, it’s hard to ignore the mounting evidence. As we delve into his injury history, a worrying picture emerges—one that casts a shadow over the Yankees’ hopes for a comeback season.

2018, Where It All Began: Anthony Rizzo faces a Back Tightness

Rizzo’s battle with back issues dates back to his time with the Chicago Cubs. In April 2018, a severe episode of lower back tightness landed him on the 10-day disabled list. The incident sparked both curiosity and concern, with reports suggesting the unlikely culprit was an uncomfortable hotel bed during a road trip. “I think the next time I go [to Cincinnati], I’ll sleep on the floor… I just have to take care of myself better,” Rizzo quipped to ESPN, acknowledging the potential impact of seemingly minor factors on his health.

This incident marked the first time Rizzo missed significant playing time due to this recurring issue. Despite the setback, he remained productive at the plate that season. However, comments like “It’s the nature of the back” and “It got to the point where it was almost like, ‘We’ve got to let this calm down’” foreshadowed the chronic nature of the problem.

While Rizzo’s trademark grit was evident when he said, “Usually it’s July, August, September… You mentally grind through it,” even then, there was a hint of resignation—an early sign of the long fight he had ahead. However, this was just the start of a concerning trend.

2019 Follows the Same Trajectory: Anthony Rizzo’s struggles with the Back continued

Unfortunately, 2019 brought no relief. In May, a familiar tightness forced him to miss a game. While he battled through, the incident echoed the concerns that first surfaced in 2018. “He came in and tried to get loosened up, but it wasn’t working as well as he wanted to,” former Cubs’ skipper Joe Maddon admitted in 2019. The lingering discomfort was a constant challenge, highlighting his body’s potential fragility.

Despite the ongoing issues, Rizzo remained a force in the lineup. His track record as a consistent power hitter, even as he managed the back pain, offered a glimmer of hope. However, the question remained: how long could he keep pushing through before his performance suffered significantly?

Fans watched with growing unease, recognizing that Rizzo’s health was a key factor in the Cubs’ success. The whispers about Rizzo’s back were a constant undercurrent to the season, a low rumble of worry amidst the excitement of the pennant race. However, four years down the line, a new kind of physical adversity awaited Rizzo while playing for the Yankees—one that would prove to be far more serious.

2023 Showed No Respite: Yankees’ star hit by Neck and Elbow injuries

The 2023 season proved to be a brutal turning point in Rizzo’s battle with his body. In May, a collision with Fernando Tatis Jr. led to an initial diagnosis of neck stiffness. It seemed minor, but something far more sinister was lurking. Rizzo soldiered on, his performance inexplicably deteriorating. Fans were baffled as his batting average plummeted, a far cry from his usual consistency.

Read More: MLB’s 2023 Schedule Change: The Culprit Behind the Yankees’ Misery, Robbing Aaron Judge and Anthony Rizzo of an Injury-Free Season

The May collision might have resulted in neck issues, but the true damage likely hadn’t yet surfaced. In July, he began experiencing additional issues—elbow pain and recurring back problems. The relentless physical setbacks were a harsh contrast to his typically reliable health. But the worst was yet to come.

Rizzo’s hitting inexplicably collapsed, with his struggles continuing into August, when a crucial medical discovery shed light on his mysterious performance.

Concussion Made It Worse: Anthony Rizzo missed the entire second half of the 2023 season

While the initial collision in May seemed like a minor incident, Rizzo’s puzzling decline in performance throughout the summer months painted a far more concerning picture. Initially, both he and the team were baffled. “I remember talking to someone and they said, ‘Do you feel like you’re coming out of this soon?’” Rizzo recalled to The Athletic. “I answered honestly that no, I don’t, because I couldn’t feel what you’re trying to feel as a hitter. I guess now we can link two and two together.”

Only later did Rizzo begin experiencing “fogginess,” prompting the club to seek neurological expertise. The devastating diagnosis revealed post-concussion syndrome, confirming that he’d been unknowingly playing with a head injury (a “cascading concussion”) for two months. Rizzo described feeling “hungover” despite not drinking, a subtle but consistent sign of the lingering damage.

The Yankees shut him down for the remainder of the season. “I think you’re probably always trying to update and find higher ground with protocols and whatever it is. Obviously the head has been one of those curious or hard to diagnose [cases],” manager Aaron Boone admitted. “I think we’ve gone leaps and bounds in the last five, 10 years, and there’s probably more ground continued to be gained in how guys get diagnosed and what to look for.”

This revelation casts his earlier neck and elbow issues in a new light. Were they isolated problems, or were further symptoms of the undiagnosed concussion subtly compounding his misery? It’s a chilling question that highlights how insidious these injuries can be.

Read More: New York Yankees Injury List vs. Roster in 2023: A Disaster, But Which Side Is Better?

Rizzo’s 2023 season was officially over. His absence contributed to the Yankees’ disappointing fourth-place finish, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. While the focus remained on recovery, the incident undeniably raises questions about Rizzo’s long-term ability to withstand the rigors of an MLB season. Here’s the troubling part: This isn’t an isolated event. Spring Training 2024 revealed another vulnerability.

Nothing changed in 2024? Rizzo faces Lat tightness ahead of the crucial Opening Day

Fast-forward to 2024, and it feels like a grim replay. Just before Opening Day, a tight Lat muscle threw Rizzo’s availability into question on Thursday, March 21st. While he remains optimistic, stating, “It won’t be an issue for Opening Day,” fans can’t help but worry when manager Aaron Boone echoes a familiar refrain: “Seems like something he’s had a lot in the past.”

The latest setback with his Lat muscle is another cruel reminder of Rizzo’s persistent battle with his body. “For like the last 12 years, honestly,” Rizzo admitted to reporters, underscoring the chronic nature of these issues. While the team and Rizzo downplay the severity, it’s difficult to shake the sense that his lingering back problems and last year’s concussion make his durability a major question mark.

Fans can’t help but sense an echo of 2023, when injuries ravaged the Yankees’ lineup and played a pivotal role in their disappointing season. As Boone concedes, the team will have to evaluate backup options like Oswaldo Cabrera or Jose Rojas if Rizzo can’t recover in time. “We’ve got to make sure we’re good (Saturday), the next day, see how it progresses,” Boone says, a hint of uncertainty lingering in his words.

Read More: Yankees’ Margin for Error in 2024 Shrinks Dramatically Without Ace Gerrit Cole

This latest scare forces the Yankees to confront a difficult reality. Can they rely on Anthony Rizzo—a key offensive force—to stay healthy for a full, grueling season when his body has repeatedly betrayed him in recent years? His own words—“This is precaution at the fullest… Younger me would have just pushed through”—hints at a player acknowledging his own limitations.

As Opening Day looms, the Yankees can only hope that this is just a minor bump in the road. But Rizzo’s injury history paints a troubling picture—one that casts a long shadow of doubt over their hopes for a resurgence in 2024.