Anthony Rizzo Joins Two Hall Of Famers On Exclusive Cubs List

Anthony Rizzo may not be an All-Star this year, but he’s still the same dangerous hitter in the middle of the order that he’s been since he made his Chicago Cubs debut. On Friday, Rizzo joined Ron Santo and Billy Williams on an exclusive list in Cubs history.

Rizzo hit his 20th home run of the season against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Friday’s 6-1 Cubs win. The two-run laser in the fourth inning marked the fifth straight year in which Rizzo’s hit at least 20 homers. All that before the age of 28, and that has only been accomplished by two other players in Cubs history, Santo and Williams, who are both in the Hall Of Fame.

Anthony Rizzo is the third player in Cubs history with five, 20 home run seasons before his age-28 season. The… https://t.co/iJgHHW9FGk
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) July 7, 2017

ANTHONY RIZZO IS NOT HERE FOR THE BULLSHIT pic.twitter.com/v73bf8UDbR
— Aldo Soto (@AldoSoto21) July 7, 2017

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Solid company to be with.

Although Rizzo’s batting average is down from previous seasons, currently at .264, the first baseman has actually improved his on-base percentage. We’re in the era of baseball that high strikeout totals are the norm, but despite that Rizzo is about to accomplish something that hasn’t been done on the Cubs since 1970.

Anthony Rizzo (20 HR, 54 BB, 42 K) can be first #Cubs player with 20 HR & more BB than K before All-Star break since Billy Williams in 1970
— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) July 7, 2017

Incredible. Power, patience and a great knowledge of the strike zone.

Rizzo’s also on pace to hit about 38 home runs this season, which would be a career high. His current high water mark in homers has been 32, which Rizzo reached in 2014 and 2016.

Enjoy it Cubs fans, we’re seeing an all-time Cubs great right now. Oh, and you know that first stat with Santo and Williams that Rizzo joined? Well, there’s this other guy across the diamond that’s going to do it too.