Anthony Rizzo Update: Theo Epstein Discusses Buzz Surrounding 1B's Debut

Top Chicago Cubs prospect Anthony Rizzo will make his Cubs debut on Tuesday and there's a lot of buzz surrounding his first start. Theo Epstein spoke a bit Tuesday about all the hype as well as what he expects from Rizzo in the early stages of his major league career.

In Theo Epstein’s mind, generating buzz had nothing to do with [calling up Anthony Rizzo], but even the Cubs president wasn’t deaf to all the noise.

"Well, I don’t think there’s going to be a lot of hype following every at-bat," Epstein said. "That would be a little bit crazy. I understand any time a young player gets numbers in the minor leagues (and) comes up, it’s fun for the fans initially. But that’ll wear off.

Related: Get Your Anthony Rizzo Chicago Cubs J-Shirt (Or Shirsey)

Additionally, you can listen to what Cubs Senior VP of Scouting and Player Development has to say about Rizzo.

The Cubs host the Mets on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. CT.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Get Your Anthony Rizzo Chicago Cubs J-Shirt (Or Shirsey)

Anthony Rizzo Promoted To Chicago Cubs 25-Man Roster, Will Debut Tuesday

The Chicago Cubs, no longer encumbered by service time concerns, have pulled the trigger on their top prospect, 1B Anthony Rizzo. The team is reportedly calling up the dynamic slugger, and he could be with the team as soon as Monday night's game against the New York Mets:

It's officiaL: Iowa Cubs announcing #AnthonyRizzo to Chicago

— Randy Peterson (@RandyPete) June 25, 2012

Rizzo was hitting an astonishing .349/.410/.710 slash with a 1.120 OPS. And though the Pacific Coast League is known for its offense-favoring parks, Rizzo's park-adjusted numbers suggest he was hitting 80% better than the league average, according to FanGraphs.

Though Rizzo is leaving Iowa immediately, the first basemen is not expected to be fully added to the roster until Tuesday night's game against the Mets.

UPDATE: Rizzo will make his debut on Tuesday.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Anthony Rizzo Update: Rizzo Starting For Triple-A Iowa On Monday

With the call-up of top 1B prospect Anthony Rizzo imminent, many Chicago Cubs fans will be paying more attention to the lineup of Triple-A Iowa Cubs than they will the lineup of the major league squad. Today's update: Rizzo is starting for Triple-A Iowa in Monday's game.

Anthony Rizzo watch: He's starting at 1B and batting 4th for @IowaCubs today. #Cubs

— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) June 25, 2012

Rizzo is demolishing the minors this year, having put up a triple-slash line of .349/.410/.710 through 68 games. Rizzo played in 49 major league games for the San Diego Padres in 2011, hitting only .141/.281/.242.

When Rizzo is called up, the team is expected to shift current first basemen Bryan LaHair to the outfield.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Anthony Rizzo Update: Cubs Players Hope To See Top Prospect In Chicago Soon

The Chicago Cubs have been going through another offensive drought, which has left several players hopeful that the organization's top minor league prospect can join the team soon and help turn things around.

‘‘Yeah, I hope they can call him up soon,’’ left fielder Alfonso Soriano said. ‘‘People have a lot of respect for him, and now it’s the perfect time because we are struggling offensively.

‘‘To me, it’s the right time to see what he’s got in him. And I hope he feels comfortable and can do here what he’s doing in the minor leagues.’’

Related: Cubs Vs. Diamondbacks Final Score: Chicago Gets Swept In Arizona

The Cubs have scored a total of nine runs over their last five games. Rizzo has had a huge season at triple-A, hitting .349/.410/.710 with 23 home runs in 68 games.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago. For more extensive coverage of this series visit Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. For more baseball news coverage, visit Baseball Nation.

Anthony Rizzo Update: Chicago Cubs Prepare For Arrival Of Top Prospect

Anthony Rizzo Update: Theo Epstein Says Cubs Nearing Call-Up Of Top Prospect

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein says that top prospect Anthony Rizzo is nearly ready to be called up from Triple-A Iowa, as ESPN Chicago reports. Rizzo was acquired from the San Diego Padres before the season and has put up absolutely gaudy numbers in his time at the minor league's highest level.

Here's the quote from Theo:

We do like our players if at all possible to get a full season of at-bats at the Triple-A level. And by full season I really mean 162 games because that's what they are going to face at the big-league level where the season is six months long instead of five months in the minor leagues. He's getting there. He's getting real close to having that full season under his belt.

This season, Rizzo has hit .370/.430/.753 with 22 homers over 242 plate appearances. He leads the minor leagues in slugging percentage and OPS this season, making it difficult for the Cubs to justify keeping him with Iowa. Over 153 Triple-A games, Rizzo has batted .345/.412/.688 with 50 doubles, 48 homers and 158 RBI, numbers that are positively eye-popping.

For more on the Chicago Cubs, check out the Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

Cubs Roster 2012: Anthony Rizzo To Remain In Minor Leagues For Interleague Games

The newest word from the Chicago Cubs is the old word: Top prospect 1B Anthony Rizzo will remain in the minor leagues. According to Cubs manager Dale Sveum, the Cubs will not summon Rizzo to play designated hitter in the upcoming interleague matchups:

#Cubs won't call up Anthony Rizzo for Interleague games in AL parks. Says Sveum: "Right now, there's no thought of it." Soriano to DH.

— Carrie Muskat (@CarrieMuskat) June 4, 2012

Rizzo has been dominating the Triple-A Pacific Coast League, hitting an overwhelming .474 weighted on-base average (wOBA) with 17 home runs. Meanwhile, the Cubs offense has struggled to score runs in the 2012 MLB season and has hit a .301 wOBA collectively as a team -- good for fifth worst in the MLB.

For more on the Chicago Cubs, check out the Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

Anthony Rizzo Update: Cubs Prospect Sits With Wrist Soreness

The Chicago Cubs' top prospect, 1B Anthony Rizzo left his most recent Triple-A game in the sixth inning with wrist soreness. The hot-hitting first base prospect is now day-to-day, but his sudden absence from the game had Cubs fans on Twitter speculating that the Cubs front office had called up the 22-year-old.

On Monday, GM Jed Hoyer put those speculations to rest:

#Cubs Hoyer says Rizzo won't be brought up to be a "changer of fortune."

— Bruce Miles (@BruceMiles2112) May 28, 2012

The Chicago Cubs are currently mired in a 12-game losing streak and have fallen to a 15-23 record, good for worst in the MLB, tied only with the Minnesota Twin who are also at 15-23.

For more on the Chicago Cubs, check out the Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

Cubs Top Prospects 2012: Anthony Rizzo Ranked No. 20 Prospect In Updated Keith Law Rankings

With many top prospects, such as OF Bryce Harper, reaching the majors and other incurring early-season injuries, prospect analyst Keith Law has decided to reshuffle his Top 25 Prospects list, and coming in at No. 20? None other than Chicago Cubs 1B Anthony Rizzo:

20. Anthony Rizzo, 1B, Chicago Cubs (age 22)
Current level: Triple-A (Iowa)
Preseason ranking: 36

Rizzo is shorter to the ball now and even hitting lefties (.327 BA/.377 OBP/.592 SLG in just 53 PA with 12 strikeouts), as well as providing plus defense at first.

Despite crushing minor league pitching, Rizzo may have to be content to wait. Analysts do not expect Rizzo to join the team until June at the soonest.

The 22-year-old slugger joined the Cubs organization this past offseason in the trade that sent RHP Andrew Cashner to the San Diego Padres.

For more on the Chicago Cubs, check out the Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

Anthony Rizzo Update: Analyst Rob Neyer Says Rizzo Is Ready, But Cubs Should Wait

Baseball analyst Rob Neyer recently weighed in on the pending call-up of Chicago Cubs prospect 1B Anthony Rizzo. In Neyer's most recent mailbag, he says that Rizzo is indeed ready for MLB pitching, but the timing is not yet right for a call-up:

According to Neyer, the Cubs will not benefit from bringing Rizzo to Wrigley at the present moment:

Rizzo is clearly ready for the majors. He's got at 1.068 OPS in 135 Triple-A games... He's 22; he's one of the best hitting prospects in all of baseball, but the Cubs are going nowhere. They have a first baseman, Bryan LaHair, who's having a great season. And they just don't need Rizzo right now.

And more than just production reason, the Cubs do not want to bring Rizzo up yet for financial reasons too:

So it's makes us leave him down there for a few more weeks, maybe a month, so he doesn't get that Super Two status that will allow him to file for arbitration a year earlier than most players with his experience. I think we'll see him probably not until middle of June, maybe a little sooner...

For more on the Chicago Cubs, check out the Cubs blog Bleed Cubbie Blue. And to learn more about the latest MLB prospect news and ratings, drop by Minor League Ball with John Sickels.

Anthony Rizzo Bashing Through Minors, But Cubs Best Off Waiting For Call-Up

As 22-year old Anthony Rizzo continues to tear through Triple-A, many Cubs fans are clamoring for the organization's best prospect to join the big league club. Alex Sonty believes the team's best option is to buy time.