Yankees activate Anthony Rizzo off 60-day IL, make flurry of other roster moves

Before Sunday’s rubber game against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Yankees made a host of roster moves, including reinstating Anthony Rizzo from the 60-day injured list.

Rizzo, who had been out since June 17 with a forearm fracture, is playing first base and batting seventh in his return to the team.

“Excited obviously to get him back,” manager Aaron Boone said on Sunday. “As I’ve said for several days now, just feel like he’s in a really good mental place and physically I think he’s been feeling really good for a few weeks now. Hopefully he can come in and provide something for us and our lineup.”

It hasn’t been the best season for the 35-year-old who has played in just 70 games for the Bombers and has eight home runs and 28 RBI while slashing .223/.289/.341 with a .630 OPS.

“We’ll see. I still think it’s in there for him to be productive,” Boone said about what he expects out of Rizzo. “I feel like he’s walking in here with some confidence. Obviously an amazing track record.”

Meanwhile, New York also recalled right-handers Ron Marinaccio and Scott Effross as well as outfielder Duke Ellis from Triple-A as rosters expand.

The Yanks made room by optioning Ben Rice and Will Warren on Saturday.

Marinaccio has pitched well in 14 games for New York this season and owns a 2.53 ERA (1.03 WHIP) in 21.1 innings. Across 99 appearances for the Yanks, the righty has a 2.96 ERA.

Traded over from the Chicago Cubs in 2022, Effross missed the playoffs that year as well as the entire 2023 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery. He began this season on the IL, but started a rehab assignment in June before getting activated and optioned to Triple-A in July.

In his brief tenure with New York, the 30-year-old was effective with a 2.13 ERA (1.03 WHIP) in 12.2 innings.

“Scott’s been throwing the ball well now for the better part of a month, so feel like he’s in a good spot,” Boone said. “Ron’s had a solid year, whether it’s been here or down there. With Clarke [Schmidt] and Luis [Gil] on the verge of coming back it gives us even another spot in the pen, so we’ve got some real depth and flexibility down there.”

Ellis, a former Met this season after getting claimed from the Chicago White Sox, was claimed by the Yankees on Aug. 26 from the Seattle Mariners who scooped him up after the Mets DFA’d him.

The 26-year-old made his debut with the White Sox this year and has appeared in eight games. Ellis is 0-for-4 in his career, but he has scored a run and is known for his speed late in the game as he already has four steals as a pinch-runner.

That means, as of right now, top prospect Jasson Domniguez will remain in the minors. Boone discussed the decision to not promote the 21-year-old.

“Certainly in the conversation. Will remain in the conversation moving forward because when he comes up here you’re gonna want to play him every day so he’ll continue to remain in that conversation and I feel like over the last couple of weeks he’s starting to play well coming back from that oblique injury.

“Tough call right now, but doesn’t mean that doesn’t change in a couple days, in a week, in two weeks whatever it is, but important for him to continue to play right now.”