Moises Ballesteros tied a historic Cubs milestone with his first major-league home run, a line-drive shot that Rizzo literally snagged back for luck at Wrigley as the ceremony honored the beloved ex-Cub. Chicago built a 3-0 edge behind Rea, but Tampa Bay surged late, fueling a 5-4 comeback as the bullpen couldn’t hold. Busch answered with a homer for Chicago, Caminero and Keller supplied the late power, and the ninth offered a glimmer of hope that Chicago couldn’t convert. Imanaga prepares for Sunday.

Anthony Rizzo retires as a Cub after 14 MLB seasons, closing a decade in Chicago with a Wrigley tribute, a ceremonial first pitch to Ian Happ and a celebratory bleacher cameo.

Happ praises his leadership; Rizzo jokes about Happ’s “dumper,” and Moisés Ballesteros’ first homer lands near his row. Rizzo’s Hodgkin lymphoma battle and the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation’s $20M+ in pediatric cancer aid cap a career that featured 242 homers, 784 RBIs, three All-Stars and four Gold Gloves, plus stops with the Padres and Yankees.

Anthony Rizzo retires at 36, returning to Wrigley Field as Cubs ambassador after a decade of powering a title-era lineup and belting 242 homers in Chicago. His farewell, highlighted by a family-filled tribute and Ian Happ’s walk-up moment, caps a career defined by leadership, resilience, and community work with the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. The ceremony signals a transition for the Cubs, blending a storied player legacy with a youthful pipeline.

Beyond the retirement, the article ties his impact to the team’s identity, noting Counsell’s praise of Rizzo and Baez as the heart of those Cubs squads. Moises Ballesteros and other Cubs youngsters stand to gain infield and lineup opportunities as leadership shifts, with fantasy owners watching for subtle shifts in playing time and production.