Yankees' Anthony Rizzo out at least 8 weeks with forearm fracture - ESPN

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo is expected to miss at least eight weeks after fracturing his right forearm, it was announced Tuesday.

Rizzo, who was placed on the injured list, said he will go «probably four or five weeks» without baseball activities. He would then need to ramp up and likely go on rehab assignment before rejoining the Yankees in August.

He confirmed he will not need surgery and fully expects to return this season.

«I've never gone through this,» Rizzo said. «This is my first fracture, bone break, so I assume I will heal fast with the treatment we have, but we'll see how it feels.»

Rizzo, 34, suffered the injury — a fracture to the radial neck of his right arm — after colliding with Boston Red Sox pitcher Brennan Bernardino while running down the first-base line during Sunday's game. Rizzo landed on his right arm and immediately grabbed his right wrist.

He said he initially thought he injured his wrist, but the pain moved up towards his elbow later.

The setback comes after Rizzo missed the final two months of last season after playing through most of the year with post-concussion syndrome. He is batting .223 with eight home runs and a .630 OPS in 70 games this season.

«It's not ideal, but it's how you look at it, right?» Rizzo said. «This is part of it. The team's in a great position. Obviously, there's nothing better than playing baseball. It's what we love to do. But now it's just about focusing on getting better and coming back and helping.»

The Yankees called up prospect Ben Rice to replace Rizzo on his roster. Drafted as a catcher out of Dartmouth in 2021, Rice has also started 52 games at first base in his minor league career. He will start at first base and bat sixth in the Yankees'