Jazz Chisholm likely headed to injured list in potential Yankees disaster
CHICAGO — Jazz was replaced by the sound of a sad trombone on Tuesday in the Yankees universe.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. is likely headed to the injured list with a UCL injury in his left (non-throwing) elbow, manager Aaron Boone said before Tuesday’s game against the White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field.
The Yankees were still waiting to hear back from doctors to determine the severity of the injury, which happened Monday night when Chisholm dove head first into home plate and got tagged on his outstretched left elbow.
Asked whether surgery was on the table or if it could cost him the rest of the season, Boone said he hoped not but did not yet know.
“We’ll probably have a better idea after all the doctors weigh in over the next 24 hours,” Boone said.
Regardless of how long Chisholm might be out, it is a blow for the Yankees after he had provided an instant spark upon being acquired from the Marlins a few days before the trade deadline.
He had moved seamlessly to third base for the first time in his career and provided power — seven home runs in 14 games — to go with an athletic threat on the bases.
“Obviously he’s been really impactful for us and hopefully this is something that’s a shorter period and we get him back and rolling,” Boone said. “Certainly tough to not have him in there [given] what he’s meant to our team already. So do our best to support him and get him right and hopefully get him back out there.”
The Yankees did not put Chisholm on the IL ahead of Tuesday’s game, though that may have been more because of their uncertain pitching plans Wednesday — if they need Will Warren to come up for a spot start, he would need to be replacing an injured player because he had not been down in the minors 15 days yet since last being optioned.
In the meantime, the Yankees started utilityman Oswaldo Cabrera at third base on Tuesday and are expected to mix and match him, DJ LeMahieu and whoever they call up from Triple-A — possibly Oswald Peraza, who has been hitting well of late.
Another candidate to fill in at third base, Jon Berti, is still building back up from a calf strain but could be ready to begin a rehab assignment by next week.
And Anthony Rizzo (arm fracture) could also factor in at some point at first base — giving LeMahieu more opportunities to play third — but he is not particularly close to going on a rehab assignment after a scan this week showed some healing in his arm but more to go.
The Yankees could also put a claim in on utilityman Amed Rosario, in whom they had interest during the offseason and at the trade deadline before he was dealt to the Dodgers, who just designated him for assignment on Monday.
However the Yankees try to fill in for Chisholm, they won’t be able to replace the shot of energy he has given the team since arriving.
Boone said the 26-year-old — who is still under team control for two more years after this season — woke up Tuesday morning thinking he could be in the lineup that night before an MRI exam on his elbow changed those plans.
“I think he’s bummed out, because he wanted to be in the lineup today,” Boone said. “But let’s see what we have. Hopefully it’s not something that’s too long.”
The Yankees are hoping that this does not play out the same way it did with Gleyber Torres, who needed Tommy John surgery as a minor leaguer in 2017 after getting injured on a play at the plate involving his left (non-throwing) elbow, which resulted in a torn UCL.
