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Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. exited Thursday’s game against the Astros with injuries to both of his knees.
The New York Yankees suddenly have a big concern besides umpire Brian Walsh’s strike zone.
Star second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. exited Thursday’s game against the Houston Astros with contusions on both knees. According to the Yankees, Chisholm sustained the injuries on separate plays.
One of those instances appeared to come in the bottom of the third inning, when Jose Altuve tried to advance on a pitch in the dirt. Catcher Austin Wells quickly pounced on the ball and threw to second, where Chisholm tagged out Altuve, whose helmet collided with Chisholm’s left knee.
Chisholm jogged gingerly off the field and took his at-bat in the top of the fourth inning, but after striking out on three pitches, YES Network cameras caught him motioning to coaches that he was done for the night.
It isn’t clear when Chisholm hurt his right knee. He was replaced by Jose Caballero.
What’s the Severity of Jazz Chisholm’s Injuries?
While the severity of Chisholm’s injuries is uncertain, the Yankees can ill afford to take him out of the lineup. Chisholm entered Thursday slashing .242/.339/.499 with 28 home runs and 78 RBI. He needs four more stolen bases to become only the fourth Yankee to produce a 30/30 season, joining Bobby Bonds (1975) and Alfonso Soriano (2002-03).
Chisholm has been especially hot of late, homering six times and driving in 13 runs over his last 49 at-bats.
What Impact Does Jazz Chisholm’s Absence Have?
After missing all of May with an oblique strain, Chisholm homered in his first game back on June 3. He went on to produce a .992 OPS in June, the highest of any full month this season.
Chisholm also dealt with a groin issue but has otherwise been a constant source of energy for the Yankees, who lead baseball in homers (239) and runs scored (733).
In a recent New York Post article, Yankees manager Aaron Boone colorfully described what Chisholm brings to the club.
“What do the kids like to say; he’s got aura? … Lot of swag,” Boone said. “We’ve reined in some of the swag, but I do love the home run trot. Most importantly, he has fit in. He brings a different element to the ballpark every day. Most importantly, he’s been super productive.”
With a record of 77-62, the Yankees entered Thursday 3.5 games behind the first-place Blue Jays in the AL East but tied with the Red Sox for the top wild card spot.
Douglas Bonjour is a breaking news contributor covering the NFL, NBA, NHL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy. He is also a contributing writer for The Associated Press and has worked for Point Spreads, the Connecticut Post and Hearst Connecticut Media as a reporter and editor. More about Douglas Bonjour
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