Jazz likely headed to IL with UCL injury; surgery possible
CHICAGO – Jazz Chisholm Jr. is likely headed to the injured list with a left UCL injury, according to manager Aaron Boone, who said that the Yankees are still working to determine the severity and if surgery will be necessary.
“We’ll probably have a better idea after all the doctors weigh in over the next 24 hours,” Boone said. “He’s bummed out because he wanted to be in the lineup today. He woke up today feeling like, ‘I’m playing today.’ Let’s see what we have, and hopefully it’s not something that’s too long.”
Chisholm underwent an MRI on Tuesday after injuring his left elbow on a slide into home plate during the Yankees’ 12-2 loss to the White Sox on Monday evening at Guaranteed Rate Field.
On the play, Chisholm scored from second base on Anthony Volpe’s infield single in the fifth inning. Television replays showed Chisholm rotating his left arm and shoulder between innings in the dugout. X-rays taken at the ballpark came back clean, according to Boone.
Chisholm remained in the game to play defense at third base but exited for a pinch-hitter, Ben Rice, when his spot in the batting order came up in the seventh. He initially said that he was “not super concerned” about the injury.
“My adrenaline was still going, so I didn’t feel it right away,” Chisholm said. “An inning went by, just sitting there, and I started to feel it a little bit.”
Acquired from the Marlins on July 27 in exchange for three prospects, Chisholm has provided the Bombers with an instant spark, including becoming the first Yankee to hit seven homers in his first 12 games with the club.
In 14 games for New York, Chisholm is batting .316 (18-for-57) with one double, seven homers and 11 RBIs.
“Obviously, he’s been really impactful for us,” Boone said. “Hopefully this is something that’s a shorter period and we’ll get him back and rolling. It’s certainly tough to not have him in there, with what he’s meant to this team already. We’ll just do our best to support him and get him right.”
Chisholm is still with the club in Chicago and should be placed on the IL in the next day or so, potentially to add a starting pitcher to the roster, as Wednesday’s starter is still listed as TBA.
Boone said that in Chisholm’s absence, DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera would both see time at third base; Cabrera drew the start on Tuesday against right-hander Jonathan Cannon. Boone added that Oswald Peraza could be considered for promotion from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as well.
“We’ll just kind of mix and match and see what makes the most sense,” Boone said.