WATCH: Rizzo discusses his first pitching experience

Tony Crumpton - Senior Editor - Tuesday, July 24 2018

Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo made his major league pitching debut in the ninth inning of the Cubs 7-1 loss to the Diamondbacks on Monday night.

Throwing a 53-mile-per-hour slider just a tad outside on his first pitch, Rizzo followed that up with a 62-mile-per-hour slider right down the pipe on his second one. Diamondbacks center fielder A.J. Pollock skied it into center field for an inning-ending flyout, providing Rizzo with a career ERA and WHIP of 0.00 and making a case for Cubs fans to claim him as the most efficient reliever of all time.

Rizzo spoke to the media following the game and talked about his first experience as a relief pitcher.

"Got to do what I wanted to do. A lot of fun," he said. "Career zero ERA now. It’s awesome. You have to have fun with it, and at the same time try not to embarrass yourself too much. I'm happy A.J popped up there. He was one of the better hitters in the league. It was pretty scary standing out on that mound."

"Obviously, we don’t ever want to pitch as position players. We always joke around about it, but on a serious note it is what it is."

Rizzo became the first left-handed throwing player to play first base, second base, third base, and also pitch during his career since George Sisler in 1930.