Fortunately for the New York Yankees, their All-Star second baseman, Jazz Chisholm Jr., has remained injury-free since joining the team last summer. However, that may have changed on Tuesday night as Chisholm exited the Yankees’ 15-3 rout of the Baltimore Orioles with an oblique issue.
The second baseman sustained the injury while fouling off a pitch in the first inning but continued playing, advancing to third base on a double and an error. The Yankees promptly substituted Chisholm with Oswald Peraza, who contributed by going 2-for-5 and driving in two runs.
There seems to be a difference of opinion between Chisholm and Yankees manager Aaron Boone regarding his condition. Boone voiced his worries, noting that Chisholm is scheduled for an MRI on Thursday in New York, leaving the reason for not conducting the test on Wednesday in Baltimore unclear.
Chisholm, conversely, assured Boone that he’s “fine.” Speaking to reporters after the match, the seasoned infielder maintained a positive outlook. “I’ve had an oblique tear before, so I know it’s not torn or anything,” Chisholm mentioned. “I can cough without any pain,” he further explained, as per the Yankees’ official site, emphasizing caution to avoid aggravating the situation.
As of Wednesday, Chisholm was batting .181 with seven homers, 17 RBIs, and six stolen bases. Nevertheless, the 27-year-old leads the American League with 39 strikeouts and is on track for career-low figures in slugging percentage (.410) and OPS (.714) over a full season. Should Chisholm be placed on the injured list, more opportunities could arise for Peraza and Pablo Reyes. Additionally, DJ LeMahieu, a former batting champ, is currently working on a rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset. LeMahieu, a four-time Gold Glove recipient, hasn’t consistently played second base since 2021.