But the Yankees’ left-hitting second baseman expects to return before the regular season ends.
“I’m confident in my healing abilities,’’ Chisholm said a few hours before Thursday night’s game against Colorado, with .
Manager Aaron Boone repeated that his choice at second base would be a daily decision between Volpe and Jose Caballero – a situation that mirrors the Yanks’ first-half shortstop dilemma.
But the rookie George Lombard Jr. is entrenched now at short.
So, Volpe has this pinstriped window to show he could provide a short-and-long term answer at second base.
“I’m just ready to go, whatever the team needs,’’ Volpe said at Yankee Stadium, before starting his first MLB game at second base.
“I’m excited. It’s good to be back.’’
Anthony Volpe's road back to the Bronx
Since his last time in the Yankees’ lineup, Aug. 1, Volpe has changed positions and locker locations; he’s now situated between Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton.
As for his sudden relocation from the Bronx to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, Volpe’s focus was on becoming defensively versatile and earning is way back ASAP.
“I just wanted to do it right away, as much as I could,’’ Volpe said of the transition to second base, and “I felt comfortable there,’’ with the help of infield coach Gil Velazquez.
At the plate, Volpe was on a heater – batting .388 over his last 13 games, with eight homers – upon his recall.
Without being specific, Volpe said there was “stuff I wanted to work on’’ and Scranton provided “a good opportunity’’ to experiment.
“So, yeah, we did a lot, and took a lot of swings, and (I) feel really good about it.’’
Based on the player development reports, Boone feels that Volpe has “done a really good job on the defensive side,’’ including the double play pivot.
“Not surprised,’’ said Boone. “He’s the type of athlete that should take to that position well.’’
Jazz Chisholm Jr. 's optimistic take
Boone acknowledged that Chisholm “does has a history of being a fast healer,’’ and wouldn’t doubt his optimistic take on returning sooner than later.
Chisholm was injured in Tuesday night’s eighth inning, on a hard, head-first slide during an unsuccessful attempt to stretch a single.
Going on adrenaline, Chisholm opened the ninth inning at second base, but his thumb “went completely numb.
“I didn’t have any feeling in it,’’ which Chisholm discovered when he spike a throw to first base after fielding a grounder. “I couldn’t feel the ball.’’
That’s when Chisholm pulled himself out of the game.
“Yeah, I mean it’s frustrating, but the goal is to win a World Series,’’ said Chisholm, swinging a hot bat at the time of his injury.
“All I’m thinking about right now is getting healthy and being back, ready for October.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com:
