Anthony Rizzo Goes Back Home After 17 Killed At His High School

Anthony Rizzo left spring training to go back home, where 17 people were killed Wednesday at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. The Chicago Cubs first baseman is a 2007 graduate of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and recently donated $150,000 to his alma mater.

Cubs manager Joe Maddon said he told Rizzo he could take as much time as he needed and offered his support.

Via ESPN.

"I told him to get back to us if there was anything we can do to help," Cubs manager Joe Maddon said Thursday. "I definitely want him to go back there and be involved. I told him, 'Take as much time as you want.'"

Sadly, Rizzo isn't the only player on the team to have had a mass shooting directly impact someone they know. On Oct. 1, 2017, Kris Bryant's sister in law was in Las Vegas, where the deadliest mass shooting in the United States occurred.

"I know Anthony will have a big influence in Florida, but it's so sad that it happened. I can't imagine what some of those people are going through. It speaks to who Anthony really is. Anthony is a role model for everyone on this team and in Chicago and this country. I know he'll do anything he can do to help." (Kris Bryant)

Rizzo and his family knew some of the victims, including football coach Aaron Feis, who was killed while shielding students from the shooter. Rizzo played football as a freshman, when Feis was an assistant coach.

After the shooting, Rizzo tweeted out support for his community and also called for a change.

Rizzo's former football coach wasn't the only person killed that he had a connection to. Via ESPN.

Jaime Guttenberg, who was killed in Wednesday's shooting according to a Facebook post by her father, was a relative of Rizzo's longtime agent.

There have been 18 school shootings so far this year in the United States according to Everytown for Gun Safety. Albert Almora Jr., who is also from Florida, discussed the tragedy as well.

The Cubs won't have spring training games until Feb. 23. At this time there's no word when Rizzo will return to Mesa.