Aaron Boone called Anthony Rizzo’s season so far “a grind.”
The first baseman went hitless again in the Yankees’ 5-1 win over the Twins on Tuesday night at the Stadium and has gone without a hit in his last three games.
It’s part of a lengthy slump in which Rizzo entered 13-for-70 with one extra-base hit, one walk, a dozen strikeouts and an OPS of .416 in his previous 18 games.
And Tuesday was no better, as the first baseman put four balls in play, none of which left the infield and all of which had an exit velocity between 60-84 mph.
“He’s at a point where he’s a good two-week stretch from being, all of a sudden, in a good, solid season,’’ Boone said. “If he pops a couple homers this homestand, he’ll have 10 homers in the middle of the lineup, with some traction to having a good month and a good year. He’s working through finding some good timing.”
Hitting coach James Rowson agreed that was Rizzo’s biggest issue.
“I can see when he’s early or late, which he’s been, and when that adds up, his other numbers are not in line from what they normally are,” Rowson said. “I see him getting closer in his at-bats, in his work and BP. When it starts to flow, we’ll see every other number start to normalize.”
And Rowson is confident it will happen soon.
“I absolutely believe he’s close,’’ Rowson said. “Then he’ll be able to attack. We’re just trying to find it. We have to make sure we get there the right way.”
Until then, though, Rizzo is a rare hole in the Yankees lineup.
The lefty-swinging Rizzo hit sixth in the lineup Tuesday against right-hander Bailey Ober, with the Twins scheduled to start righties all three games.
Rizzo entered Tuesday with a .731 OPS against right-handers compared to just .471 versus lefties.
DJ LeMahieu started at third again and went 0-for-2 with a walk and a run scored.
He’s 4-for-20 with no extra-base hits in his first six games since returning from a fracture in his right foot and Boone said he’s been pleased with how LeMahieu has responded physically.
“He looks good,’’ Boone said. “He’s had good at-bats so far, is moving well and has bounced back well physically.
Scott Effross advanced to facing hitters in his rehab from 2022 Tommy John surgery that was slowed by back surgery in December.
He is expected back later this summer.
Asked to compare Juan Soto’s confidence and presence to another player, Boone replied with “Barry Bonds.”
“But Juan is unique in his own right,’’ the manager said. “There’s a theatrical level to it. A battle, fight element to it. We want our team to be about the way he is.”
Soto called the comparison “special.”
Anthony Volpe went 1-for-4 and has reached base in a career-high 30 straight games.