Anthony Rizzo was honored by the Chicago Cubs on Saturday following his retirement, but the highlight of his day might well have been an unexpected chance to catch a rookie’s first career MLB home run ball.
Rookie catcher Moisés Ballesteros hit his first MLB home run in the second inning of Saturday’s game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill. Ballesteros hit the ball directly to Rizzo, who was watching the game from the left field bleachers.
LOOK OUT, RIZZO!
— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) September 13, 2025
Mo Baller's first career @mlb home run lands in Anthony's lap! pic.twitter.com/et13uoUyVk
The ball actually went directly to Rizzo, who should have made the catch. However, it bounced off his hand and was scooped up by the fan behind him. The former first baseman could be seen muttering “that’s why I’m retired” to those around him.
Replay of Moisés Ballesteros' first career homer right to Anthony Rizzo in the bleachers.
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 13, 2025
"HE HAD IT! HE LITERALLY HIT IT RIGHT TO HIM!… 'That's why I'm retired' is what he just said." – Boog Sciambi ⚾️🎙️ #MLB pic.twitter.com/qSGxW0EHp9
Ballesteros is regarded as one of the Cubs’ top prospects, and was ranked the No. 69 overall prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com in its preseason rankings. Saturday marked his eighth career MLB game, and he had gone 6-for-22 with a double and a triple already entering the contest.
Though Rizzo finished his career with the New York Yankees, he will always be most identified with the Cubs, and there are plenty of reasons he wanted to retire in their uniform. The fact that he nearly caught a home run ball is just icing on the cake.
Rizzo made three All-Star teams, was a four-time Gold Glove winner, and he helped the Cubs win the World Series in 2016.
