Almost every year, a midseason addition emerges as an October hero and contributes to a team’s World Series victory. The New York Yankees are hopeful that Jazz Chisholm Jr. can still be that person for them despite his present injuries. Fortunately, the dream stays alive after the most recent update.
Chisholm will not have surgery to correct the left elbow sprain he suffered last week against the Chicago White Sox, according to Greg Joyce of the New York Post. The 26-year-old third baseman and outfielder, who has a.316 batting average, seven home runs, a.702 slugging percentage, and a 1.062 OPS in 14 games with the Yankees, intends to rehab the injury before returning in September.
Milwaukee Brewers star Christian Yelich meant to do something similar, but is now out for the rest of the 2024 season. Of course, the two players have different problems (Yelich will have back surgery on Friday), but elbow injuries are tough to foresee. While New York’s fall plans should remain intact, winning the division would be significantly more difficult if manager Aaron Boone is unable to incorporate his new sparkplug into the lineup.
The Yankees and Baltimore Orioles are now tied in the American League East rankings with a record of 72-50. Having home field advantage and avoiding a potentially unpredictable best-of-three Wild Card series could be critical. Furthermore, the organization wants Chisholm to have enough time to reintegrate himself into the offense before the playoffs begin.
A healthy Jazz Chisholm Jr. substantially lengthens the Yankees’ lineup.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13), a third baseman for the New York Yankees, observes the flight of his solo home run against the Texas Rangers at Yankee Stadium.
The former cover athlete of MLB The Show is full of ability and potential, but he has yet to play more than 124 games in a single season. Injuries and position changes could be a major reason why the 2022 All-Star is not a full-fledged star yet. However, he was clearly romancing New Yorkers prior to his arrival on the IL.
Chisholm has the personality to thrive in the most competitive sports market in the country. He is visibly grateful for the opportunity to wear the pinstripes and compete in such an exciting environment on a regular basis. And the Bronx is just as grateful for his coming.
Fans understand how thin the lineup can get when one hot bat is taken from the mix. Pitchers will take a cautious approach when facing Aaron Judge and Juan Soto if they believe they have little firepower behind them. That same quandary caused the Yankees to collapse earlier this year and may be their undoing this year.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. and rookie catcher Austin Wells are providing a much-needed surge of energy and flare, allowing the team to compete for the league’s top record. In New York’s ideal scenario, Judge will continue to make history, Soto will put pressure with his unrivaled plate discipline, and a handful of others will step up as needed.
That is an effective formula for the Yankees. However, if Chisholm is functioning at full capacity, the implementation should be significantly easier.
