Part 1 | Anthony Rizzo on Beating Cancer Before Beating Pitchers

On this episode of Dirt From the Dugout, Karl Ravech and Justin Musil welcome World Series champion and cancer survivor Anthony Rizzo, tracing his winding path from Parkland, Florida through a cancer diagnosis just one year after being drafted, two trades, and an eventual breakout in Chicago. Rizzo talks candidly about hitting his first real valley in travel ball during his junior year of high school, watching teammates like Hunter Strickland and Ryan Pressly transform from barely-throwing-90 prospects into dominant big leaguers, and why he believes today’s youth players are chasing advanced analytics before mastering the basics of fielding a ground ball or hitting a line drive off a tee. He opens up about learning from teammates and opponents alike. He credits his relationship with hitting coach Victor Rodriguez and his daily at-bat breakdowns with Eric Hinske for shaping his approach at the plate. Rizzo also reflects on how beating cancer as an 18-year-old reframed every baseball struggle that followed, teaching him to find perspective and even enjoy the grind of a slump. Use our code for 10% off your next SeatGeek order*: seatgeek.onelink.me/RrnK/TERRITORY10 Sponsored by SeatGeek. *Restrictions apply. Max $20 discount Join our growing community today!https://theparentdugout.com/  Subscribe to the podcast!https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dirt-from-the-dugout/id1895617382 https://open.spotify.com/show/0TYMMgoNypFpff5xMkBI98  Follow our social media channels for more content!https://x.com/dirtfromthedugSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.