Jazz Chisholm Jr. Could Return to Third Base with the Yankees
Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. could be reinstated from the injured list as early as Tuesday, when the team begins a six-game homestand. Manager Aaron Boone announced on Friday that Chisholm is likely to move to third base once he returns.
Chisholm has been on the injured list due to an oblique strain since April 30. Before the injury, he played at second base in his 29 starts. However, in his first rehab game on Thursday, he played at third base as preparation for the change.I feel like I can always move him back, but right now it makes sense to give him some reps there. He played really well there last year. Obviously, he’s really good at second base too. So, just trying to maintain some flexibility.
Aaron Boone
In his first game back, Chisholm had a standout performance with a double and a walk for the Double-A Somerset team. Boone indicated that Chisholm will play again on Saturday and possibly be the designated hitter on Sunday. Before the injury, Chisholm was batting .181 with seven home runs and an OPS of .714.
The Yankees acquired Chisholm from the Marlins last July with the intention of moving him from the outfield back to second base, a position where he began his career in the Major Leagues. However, Gleyber Torres, the starting second baseman, refused to move to third base, which led the Yankees to ask Chisholm to play there.
Chisholm, who had never played in that position, accepted the assignment and became the Yankees’ starting third baseman during the World Series. Advanced metrics indicated that he was one of the best defensive third basemen in the majors.
On this occasion, the Yankees prefer to keep 36-year-old DJ LeMahieu at second base and replace the rotation of Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas with Chisholm, who bats left-handed.
When you haven’t done it, it can be more complicated on the fly. He had some issues there, but overall he was elite, in my opinion. Just the range he has there and the strength of his arm, some of the double plays he turned. I think he did very well.
Aaron Boone
Regarding the pitching staff, right-hander Luis Gil threw a 15-pitch bullpen session on Friday, marking the first time he’s thrown from a mound since being sidelined due to a back injury in February. Boone indicated that it will still “take a while” before the American League Rookie of the Year award winner makes his season debut.
Fernando Cruz is scheduled to throw in a live bullpen session on Saturday at Dodger Stadium and is expected to come off the injured list on Tuesday if he doesn’t suffer any setbacks in the session, according to Boone.
Cruz was one of the best relievers in the majors, with an ERA of 2.66 and a strikeout percentage of 37.6% in 21 appearances, before entering the injured list for shoulder inflammation on May 22.
