Chicago Cubs: Anthony Rizzo somehow remains underrated in fans’ eyes

Despite his remarkable consistency and all-around talent, Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo is too often lumped in with his positional counterparts.

Right in front of our eyes, Anthony Rizzo has transformed into one of the best players in baseball. It took a lot to go from a struggling, lost rookie with the San Diego Padres to one of the most adaptable offensive threats in the league and leader of the Chicago Cubs.

Yet, despite this dramatic evolution, Cubs fans take him for granted. The perfect example of this? This week, someone told me that power-hitting first baseman are a dime a dozen in Major League Baseball.

We had been discussing which of the team’s young players the front office need to prioritize when many of the core pieces’ contracts expire. The usual suspects came up: Javier Baez, Kris Bryant – you get the picture.

But, for whatever reason, Rizzo rarely made the cut with folks. And, to be honest, for the life of me, I can’t understand why this is the case.

Chicago Cubs: Year-in, year-out, Rizzo delivers

There are few players in all of baseball, let alone on the Chicago Cubs, as predictable as Anthony Rizzo. Annually since 2014, the Cubs first baseman has hit at least 31 home runs. In each of the last three seasons, he eclipsed the 100-RBI mark, as well.

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Like I said, you know what you’re getting.

But power-hitting first baseman grow on trees, right? That may be the case, but there’s a big difference between Rizzo and someone like, say, Pedro Alvarez? He fits that power-hitting first baseman line. And that’s not to take anything away from the Cubs’ fearless leader, either. It simply comes down to the fact there’s far more to his game than hitting homers.

He’s always been a remarkably good hitter in pitcher-friendly counts. Why? Because he chokes up and understands a seemingly lost art: cutting down your swing for contact. In today’s launch angle revolution, the majority of big leaguers fail to shorten up. Just ask Baez, who’s notorious for violent swings and misses.

In fact, last year, Rizzo walked more than he struck out (91:90) – a remarkable feat for anyone, let alone a ‘power-hitting first baseman’. This guy simply gets how to hit – and it goes far, far beyond his power game.

Chicago Cubs: Etching his name in the history books

Fifty years from now, fans will still be listening to Pat Hughes’ call of the final out of the 2016 World Series. We’ll be looking at old copies of the Chicago Tribune, remembering what it was like to see Kris Bryant throw across the diamond to Anthony Rizzo for the final out.

And that remains true no matter how many championships the Cubs win between now and then. While that play will be Rizzo’s longest-lasting legacy in Chicago, there’s a lot more to what he’s done for this franchise.

Sticking strictly to his on-field contributions (which almost doesn’t seem right given his role in the community and clubhouse), we’ll likely be hanging a ’44’ on a foul pole at the Confines one day. Why? Here’s why.

Before season’s end, he’ll crack the Cubs’ Top 10 all-time home run list. He enters Wednesday with 178 career long balls. The tenth and ninth names on that list? Hack Wilson and Hank Sauer. Say Rizzo plays through his current deal and averages 30 homers a year – that’s an additional 108 homers. That places him behind only Sammy Sosa, Ernie Banks, Billy Williams and Ron Santo.

Not bad company.

Next: The Cubs' top home run hitters of all-time

Yes, there’s more to his game that just power. But the fact that he excels in all these other areas while also providing major pop in the lineup speaks to his talent. Make no mistake. When his contract expires in a few years, keeping Rizzo in the fold will be a top priority for this organization.