New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. is heading to the 10-day injured list with a sprained right thumb, prompting the club to recall Anthony Volpe from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Chisholm sustained the injury sliding into second base during Tuesday night’s victory against the Colorado Rockies at Yankee Stadium.
The Yankees are dealing with yet another significant roster shake-up as the regular season enters its final stretch. Chisholm was injured in the eighth inning of Tuesday night’s 5-3 victory over the Rockies when he slid headfirst into second base trying to stretch a single into a double. Medical imaging confirmed the sprain on Wednesday, and manager Aaron Boone announced that the infielder will be shut down from all baseball activities for seven to 10 days.
With only 18 regular-season games remaining, the team cannot yet confirm whether Chisholm will return before the end of the regular season on Sept. 27. The timing is particularly frustrating for New York, as the injury interrupted what had been one of Chisholm’s best offensive stretches of the season. He had reached base safely in 13 of his last 28 plate appearances, carrying a .464 on-base percentage into the final weeks.
Anthony Volpe Returns After a Minor League Remake
To fill the void on the active roster, the Yankees are turning back to a familiar face who spent the last month quietly rebuilding his game away from the majors. Anthony Volpe, who won a Gold Glove as a rookie shortstop three years ago, was demoted to Triple-A in early August after struggling to a .240 batting average with one home run and 19 RBIs across 56 big league games.
Photo: newsday.com
Instead of letting the demotion break him, Volpe went down to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and completely overhauled his approach. He batted .284 with 10 home runs and a 1.023 OPS in 28 minor league games, a tear that included a blazing recent stretch where he hit .388 with six home runs and a 1.320 OPS in his last 13 games. His tear was so dominant that Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez joked that Volpe became Barry Bonds all of a sudden.
“I feel like he has been really putting together some of his best at-bats of the season for an extended stretch. So it’s definitely a blow, but hopefully one that the time down here gets this thing right and puts him in position to impact us moving forward.”
Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager
The organization used the minor league stint not just to fix his swing, but to expand his defensive versatility. While playing at Triple-A, Volpe made 19 starts at second base, three at third base, and 15 at shortstop, committing just one error in 78 chances at his new primary position. Ryan Hunt, the team’s infield, outfield, and base-running coordinator, noted that Volpe has excelled in the transition and adapted well to the slightly slower pace required at second base compared to shortstop.
Volpe’s return creates a brand-new double-play combination for the Bronx Bombers. He will patrol the keystone alongside George Lombard Jr., the organization’s top prospect who was promoted when Volpe was originally sent down. Lombard, who hit the Yankees’ first grand slam of the season during a 6-1 win over Colorado, brushed aside any notion of locker room awkwardness regarding the reunion.
Photo: sports.yahoo.com
“We’re all in the baseball world. We know what the baseball world is like. Anything and everything can happen. It’s just things that happen. I’m finding out now that he’s going to be here tomorrow, but yeah, makes sense. I’m excited to have him. He’s a great dude, and I know he’s going to be good in the clubhouse, and I’m excited (for us) to work together finally.”
QUESTIONABLE: Yankees Recall Volpe, Blow Past Rockies, and Lombard Jr. SLUGS Grand Slam
George Lombard Jr., Yankees shortstop
Before Chisholm’s injury, José Caballero had stepped in, starting at second base on Wednesday after replacing Chisholm the night before. Caballero has put together a productive season with 13 homers and 47 RBIs in 123 games, and he remains an option for playing time alongside Volpe down the stretch. Meanwhile, the Yankees dismissed the idea of shifting Luis García Jr. to second base, with Boone indicating that the team views him primarily as a first baseman.
The timing of these roster maneuvers highlights the high-pressure environment of September baseball in the American League. The Yankees entered Wednesday sitting four games back of the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays in the race for the American League East title and its accompanying first-round playoff bye. At the same time, New York held a four-game cushion over the Boston Red Sox for the top AL wild-card spot.
Photo: The New York Times
With the standings tightly contested, Boone emphasized that popularity takes a backseat to performance. Bringing back Volpe after a minor league demotion and managing Aaron Judge’s return from a 99-day absence due to a cracked rib are calculated risks designed solely to secure wins.
