Anthony Rizzo hits home run in first-ever leadoff appearance (Video)

Chicago Cubs’ Anthony Rizzo just took the plate in his first-ever leadoff appearance. Rizzo crushed a home run to give the Cubs a 1-0 lead.

Not too shabby for the Cubs’ first baseman, who typically hits in the heart of the order for Chicago. Joe Maddon decides to put Anthony Rizzo in the leadoff spot for the first time in his career and it’s already paying dividends.

It was a 1-0 fastball in the top of the first inning from the Mets’ right hand pitcher. Rizzo absolutely crushed it over the center field wall at Citi Field. Rizzo didn’t even hesitate or worry about his first appearance at the leadoff spot.

This has become what we expect of the left-handed first baseman of the Chicago Cubs on a nightly basis. He’s batting .252 on the season, with 14 home runs and 38 RBIs. Rizzo has been playing phenomenal defense as well at first base, and now this.

Maddon knows how to push the right buttons of his players and expect the best results. He did it last year as he led the Cubs to their first World Series title in ages. Now in search of the repeat, Maddon is doing the exact same thing.

The Cubs are, however, one game under .500, at 31-32, trying to battle back in the NL Central. They’re only one game back of the Milwaukee Brewers, with only about 100 games remaining. The Cubs are currently playing the New York Mets in a three-game set in New York. The Mets took the opener last night, 6-1. The Cubs are looking to avenge the loss tonight and Rizzo has them rolling in the right direction.

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Everything in Rizzo’s life seems to be clicking. He just recently got engaged and is now batting leadoff for the Chicago Cubs. Doesn’t matter to him, though, he’s still crushing the long ball.