The Yankees got a lift with Aaron Judge back after 99 days on the injured list and a win over the Rockies that widened their cushion over the Red Sox in the AL Wild Card chase. But the night also left them with a problem they did not need: Jazz Chisholm Jr. may be headed for a spell of injury purgatory after jamming his thumb.
Chisholm’s issue came in the bottom of the eighth with New York ahead 5-1. He lined a ball into the right-field corner and sprinted out of the box assuming he had a double.
The play was ruled out after replay, and Chisholm was not happy about it. On the slide into second, he jammed his thumb into the bag.
He was still bothered by the injury when he left the game in the top of the ninth. After the game, Aaron Boone said Chisholm was dealing with numbness and that the team would check on him in the morning. Boone also said further testing was possible if the symptoms got worse.
If Chisholm does miss time, that opens the door to a conversation the Yankees probably should be having anyway: Anthony Volpe at second base.
Volpe has been productive since getting sent back to Triple-A. In 29 games there, he has hit .284/.381/.642 with 10 homers and 21 RBI.
He has also made just one error in 162 1/3 innings at second base. That kind of production makes him at least worth a look if the Yankees need infield help.
And with Judge back, the timing makes the idea easier to sell. Jose Caballero gives them versatility, but he is still a bench piece.
George Lombard Jr. is staying at shortstop. Volpe could slide into a reserve role without disrupting much, while also giving the Yankees a player who could help down the line, whether that means becoming a viable piece for 2027 or boosting his trade value in an offseason that figures to be uncertain.
There is also Max Schuemann, though the Yankees already know what they have there. He has been in Triple-A and is hitting .273 with a .795 OPS. Solid, but not exactly the kind of move that changes the mood.
Volpe, on the other hand, would at least make for a more interesting turn. A player who has spent time as a scapegoat could suddenly find himself contributing for a team with championship hopes.
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