Anthony Rizzo Almost Catches a Home Run from a Cubs Rookie — Moments After He Announced His MLB Retirement

Anthony Rizzo is hanging up his cleats.

As the Chicago Cubs prepared to take on the Tampa Bay Rays at Wrigley Field on Saturday, Sept. 13, the former first baseman, 36, marked his official retirement from MLB — and shared his exciting celebration plans with reporters in a pre-game presser.

“I’m going to sit in the bleachers. I’m going to eat a hot dog. I’m going to drink some adult beverages,” he told reporters. “And, are we allowed to do the beer snake? ‘Cause I will be the rally starter.”

“I have one day to really live it up,” he later added.

And live it up he did. The former baseball pro — who is currently expecting his first child with wife Emily Vakos — threw out the first pitch to former teammate Ian Happ, per ESPN before hitting the stands, as planned. However, the action on the field soon found its way to the retiree.

At the bottom of the second inning of the game, Cubs rookie Moisés Ballesteros hit his first career home run into the left-field bleachers — towards Rizzo, per ESPN and The Athletic.

The Cubs alum almost caught the homer, too. Almost.

As the baseball headed his way, an excited Rizzo stood up on the bleachers to catch it while smiling, footage shared by the MLB shows. The ball hit his hand before bouncing off, ultimately ending up with the fan just behind him.

Rizzo, the lucky fan and everyone in the surrounding area then celebrated, the footage shows.

“That’s why I’m retired,” he later joked in the stands, according to the Cubs.

Saturday not only marked Rizzo’s retirement but also a return home of sorts. The first baseman played his final season with the New York Yankees, but spent much of his career — and made a name for himself — as a Cub, and specifically by helping the team to a historic victory at the 2016 World Series.

He spent 10 of his 14 years as a pro with the Cubs, during which he helped the team achieve its first World Series title in 108 years, per ESPN.

In the stands on Saturday, Rizzo — who retired in a jersey “signed by all the patients we have visited over the years who were battling cancer,” according to his post on X — spent his time socializing with Cubs fans, The Athletic reported.

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The soon-to-be dad gave away hundreds of beers for fans, bought donuts for Cubs staff and sent multiple treat packages to media and other staff in the press box, according to the outlet.

He was also the life of the party — and, per footage shared on Instagram by Barstool Sports, followed through on his promise to start a massive beer snake.