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Anthony Rizzo broke out of a terrible slump with the help of pop megastar Taylor Swift. The New York Yankees first baseman switched his walk-up song to Swift’s “…Ready For It?” on Sunday and saw immediate results.
Rizzo went 4-for-4 on the day, easily his best output of the year. He noted the change after the game, giving props to the artist in a postgame interview.
In the month prior to Sunday’s game against the Royals, Rizzo had gone just 11-for-77 (.142 avg) at the dish. His last multi-hit contest came back on June 23rd against the Rangers.
Over that time, he’d recorded just two extra-base hits, both doubles, while tallying no home runs and just two RBIs.
Looking for any way possible to shake the slump, Rizzo turned to Taylor Swift. Going back to her 2017 reputation album, the infielder aptly chose the tune, “…Ready For It?”
Ready, he was.
Rizzo racked up four hits in four at-bats, including his first home run since May 20th (!).
ANTHONY RIZZO HAS HIT A HOME RUN pic.twitter.com/84AQQnCcXN
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 23, 2023
Teammates gave him the silent treatment after that long ball before swarming him in the dugout. Zoned in, Rizzo’s massive day at the plate would continue.
He’d slap a couple of singles in his next two at-bats, adding to a first inning RBI double and that homer. With the performance, he saw his batting average jump by nearly 10 points from .244 to .253.
After helping the Yankees cruise to an 8-5 win, Rizzo credited Taylor Swift.
“Taylor Swift… It’s her summer, really. She’s helping the economy in every city she goes.”- Anthony Rizzo.
Rizzo changed his walk-up song to Taylor Swift’s “…Ready For It?” and went 4-for-4 with a homer. pic.twitter.com/qNIcjW5u8R
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) July 23, 2023
Rizzo’s ‘Cruel Summer’ is over as he looks to once again become ‘The Man’ in the Bronx.