The New York Yankees placed second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the 10-day injured list with a strained right oblique. However, he is expected to miss at least a month after an MRI exam revealed three high-grade tears in the muscle, according to MLB.com.
Chisholm, 27, sustained the injury in Tuesday’s 15-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles. During his first inning at-bat versus Kyle Gibson, Chisholm grabbed at his right side after fouling off a pitch. He stepped out of the batter’s box to stretch out, which compelled Yankees manager Aaron Boone and a team athletic trainer to check on him.
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The six-year veteran stayed in the game and hit a double to right field on the next pitch. When he went to third on an error by right fielder Ramón Laureano, Chisholm slid headfirst into the base. He appeared to be in pain after the play and was pulled from the game.
Following the game, Chisholm insisted the injury wasn’t serious.
“I’m really not as concerned as everybody else. I feel pretty good,” Chisholm said, via the Associated Press. “I’ve torn my oblique before, so I know it’s not torn or anything. It was just to be cautious.”
Chisholm did not play Wednesday, and Boone said he would undergo testing during the team’s off day on Thursday. An MRI exam revealed the strain and Chisholm was placed on the IL, retroactive to April 30. He’s eligible to return May 10 while the Yankees are on a West Coast trip, but will apparently be sidelined for a longer span.
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“I was super surprised when I saw the results,” Chisholm told reporters. “It’s not as bad as it looks on the scan.”
In 125 plate appearances this season (30 games), Chisholm is batting .181 with a .704 OPS, seven home runs, 17 RBI and six stolen bases. Most problematic have been his 39 strikeouts. Chisholm moved back to second base after playing third base for the Yankees following his acquisition from the Miami Marlins and has played strong defense there, with three Outs Above Average and three Defensive Runs Saved.
To take Chisholm’s place on the roster, the Yankees recalled infielder Jorbit Vivas from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Playing second base and third base, Vivas batted .319 with an .862 OPS, five doubles, two homers, 15 RBI and six steals in 116 PAs.
