The Yankees are losing Jazz Chisholm for now, but they’re getting Anthony Volpe back in a move that reshapes the infield just as the season tightens up.
Chisholm is headed to the 10-day injured list with a strained right thumb, and manager Aaron Boone said there will be “No baseball activities for the next seven to 10 days, and then see where we’re at,” leaving his status for the playoffs uncertain. The regular season wraps up Sept. 27, two weeks from Sunday, so a return before October is far from guaranteed.
The injury happened Tuesday night in the eighth inning of the Yankees’ 5-3 win over the Rockies, when Chisholm dove headfirst into second base and was thrown out trying to turn a single into a double. He stayed in the game, then later handled a groundball in the ninth and made a one-hop throw to first despite the thumb issue.
Volpe, meanwhile, is set to rejoin the Yankees on Thursday after making the trip from Rochester, N.Y. to New York City. Boone said, “He’s been doing really well,” and the plan now points to Volpe taking over at second base, with Jose Caballero and Amed Rosario also available for starts there while Chisholm is out.
Since being optioned to Triple-A for the second time this season on Aug. 4, Volpe has spent time at several spots.
He had played only shortstop in the majors after debuting on Opening Day 2023, but in this latest stretch he logged second base and even three starts at third. In 19 games at second, he made one error in 86 chances.
At Triple-A, Volpe has put together strong numbers. He’s hitting .264 with 11 homers and 26 RBI in 37 games overall, and in his second stint with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre he’s batting .295 with seven doubles, 10 homers and 21 RBI in 27 games.
Boone praised the way Volpe handled the demotion, saying, “I have a ton of respect for the person and the player,” and adding, “I know he’s been a complete pro and completely got after it down there in everything they’ve thrown out, whether it’s moving and playing some second base, obviously introducing some third base to him, making sure his swing’s dialed in. He’s obviously swung the bat incredibly well.
“That’s not an easy thing to do when you’ve been the guy in the big leagues and you’ve got to go back. I’ve seen a lot of good players go there and not perform and struggle. So I think it’s a testament to his makeup and who he is and the kind of player he is.”
For Chisholm, the timing is especially frustrating after a strong recent run. The 28-year-old has had a disappointing second full season with the Yankees overall, but he hit .391 over his last 15 games beginning Aug. 22, lifting his average from .214 to .232. His 18 homers and 46 RBI are below last season’s career-best pace of 31 homers and 80 RBI in 2025, but he still leads the AL with 40 steals.
Boone said, “I feel like he has been really putting together some of his best at-bats of the season for an extended stretch,” and called the injury “definitely a blow,” while adding that the time off could help Chisholm get right and put him “in position to impact us moving forward.”
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Yankees Suddenly Face An Infield Decision They Didn't Expect
Jazz Chisholm Jr. gave the Yankees a jolt in the middle of a game against the Rockies when he injured his thumb sliding into second base and had to leave after dealing with numbness. For a club that has already spent plenty of time sorting out its infield mix, the timing makes this more than a minor scare, especially with Aaron Boone saying the team will keep monitoring Chisholm and see whether more testing becomes necessary if the symptoms worsen.
The immediate concern is less about one awkward slide than what it could mean for the alignment around the rest of the roster. If Chisholm needs any time at all, the Yankees may have to adjust on the fly, and Anthony Volpe is among the names that could factor into those decisions as Boone and the front office try to protect the infield without losing too much flexibility. [Read more 🡒]
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Cody Bellinger helped set the tone by scoring the first run and adding a double in the eighth inning, while Heliot Ramos delivered the biggest swing with a three-run home run. Aaron Boone also pulled Judge after six innings to keep him protected as he continues ramping up for the postseason, a small but telling sign that the Yankees are trying to balance the return of their centerpiece with the broader need to keep everyone else engaged and ready. [Read more 🡒]