The Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo celebrates his solo home run against the St. Louis Cardinals in the third inning on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019, at Wrigley Field in Chicago. (Brian Cassella/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo made an unexpected return to the lineup Thursday night, and he did it with the perfect walk-up music.
After injuring he rolled his right ankle last Sunday against the Pirates, it seemed all but certain Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo would miss the rest of the regular season as the team tries to stick in the playoff race. But after reports surfaced that he showed well in on-field work prior to Thursday night’s game against the Cardinals, Rizzo was back in the lineup batting leadoff in a critical game Thursday night.
Many players pick their walk-up music, as a nod to something their child likes (see Elvis Andrus and “Baby Shark”), a favorite artist or some with sentimental appeal or value. Some surely go further, and either don’t change their walk-up song if they’re on a hot streak or change it daily if they’re going especially poorly at the plate for a stretch.
Rizzo, with his unexpected quick return to the lineup obviously in mind, changed his walk-up song in an expert-level fashion Thursday night.
Yep, that’s the entrance theme of WWE legend The Undertaker Rizzo walked up to.
Rizzo homered in the bottom of the third inning, to tie the game at 3, and he went 1-for-3 with that home run and a strikeout Thursday night. The Cubs lost their third straight game, to drop a game back of the second Wild Card in the NL.
But Rizzo’s gutsy, “back from the dead” return to the lineup might provide a spark for a Cubs’ team that really needs one if they want to reach the playoffs again or have any chance at a run deep into October. Even his return doesn’t provide said spark, Rizzo’s choice of walk-up music Thursday night was fun and memorable.