Cubs' Rizzo exits with sore right wrist
Rizzo delivered a two-run double in the first inning of Triple-A Iowa's 5-1 win at Memphis, then grounded out to end the second and took a called third strike in the fourth. He left for a pinch-hitter in the sixth, fueling speculation he might be promoted to the Major Leagues.
But the Chicago Cubs later issued a statement that said Rizzo is listed as day-to-day with a sore wrist.
The 22-year-old first baseman has been abusing PCL pitching for the second season in a row. He leads the league with 17 homers, a .713 slugging percentage, 30 extra-base hits, 129 total bases and shares the top spot with 46 RBIs. He also ranks fifth with a .354 batting average.
On Tuesday, MLB.com's No. 32 prospect tied an Iowa team record by scoring five runs. He also collected three hits and three RBIs in an 18-8 rout of Tacoma.
Even Chicago manager Dale Sveum conceded Rizzo has little left to prove in the Minor Leagues.
"He's done everything he can down there, but once again, when you bring somebody up like that, he has to play every day. That's the million-dollar question. How do we get that playing time?" Sveum told MLB.com earlier this month.
Daren Smith is an editor for MLB.com.