NEW YORK — Jazz Chisholm Jr. had already endured the most painful moment of his Yankees season. Then things got worse.
The second baseman was in a 2-2 count in the fourth inning when the foul ball struck him in a particularly unforgiving spot. Chisholm fouled a ball off his groin, writhing on the ground as trainers rushed out to check on him. He left the game mid-at-bat and did not return.
Anthony Volpe stepped in to complete the at-bat for Chisholm, working a walk before the Yankees went on to lose 5-1 to the Chicago White Sox.
His own teammates could not resist
The pain was immediate and severe. What followed was a double dose of misery.
Chisholm dropped to the ground as Yankee Stadium went quiet, with trainers jogging out from the dugout to attend to him. The discomfort was enough to end his night right there, something the Yankees could not afford on another battered roster day.
His suffering was not met with much sympathy in the Yankees dugout. When the YES Network cameras panned to the bench, several of his teammates were caught on camera laughing after watching the replay.
Reports noted the reaction among those in the dugout, with the baseball truism holding firm: there is nothing funnier to a group of teammates than watching someone take a foul ball to the groin, regardless of how badly it hurts.
The clip circulated immediately on social media, with fans pointing out that even in his agony, Chisholm had inadvertently provided the Yankees clubhouse with fresh material for the group chat.
The backlash hits online
The social media reaction was swift and pointed. Many fans zeroed in on the fact that Chisholm appeared not to be wearing a protective cup during the at-bat.
The criticism piled up across platforms almost as fast as the replays spread. Fans did not hold back.
“Damn why he didn’t have the cup on,” one wrote.
Another added bluntly: “This is why you always wear your cup in baseball.”
A third offered a sharper assessment: “I don’t care how uncomfortable a cup is, not wearing one as an infielder is NASTY work.”
Some went further, questioning what his absence would mean for a Yankees team already thin on bodies.
“How can the Yankees continue to take Jazz Chisholm seriously,” one post read.
The Yankees did not provide an official update on Chisholm’s condition after the game, and he was unavailable to the media.
A growing injury concern
The foul-ball incident was not the first time Chisholm’s availability has drawn attention recently for the Yankees. He had already sat out Sunday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays.
Manager Aaron Boone acknowledged before that game that the infielder was a bit beaten up. The Yankees did not elaborate on the specifics at the time, but it added context to Thursday’s exit.
For a team already managing the absences of Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton, Trent Grisham, and Austin Wells, losing Chisholm to any additional time off would stretch an already-tested depth chart.
What the Yankees lose if he misses time
Chisholm has been one of the Yankees’ most dynamic contributors this season. Through 69 games, he is hitting .229 with 10 home runs, 30 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases.
He started the year slow, not hitting his first home run until April 23. Since then, he has been a consistent force, posting a 130 wRC+ across that stretch, ranking fifth on the Yankees.
His speed and athleticism on the basepaths have also been a weapon the Yankees would miss. Chisholm entered the season declaring he would become baseball’s second member of the 50-50 Club. After a dull start, he is on a lucky ride.
Boone moved quickly to reshuffle the infield after Chisholm departed. He shifted Jose Caballero to second base and kept Anthony Volpe at shortstop, the same alignment the Yankees had used earlier in the season when Chisholm was unavailable.
That combination gives the Yankees a capable defensive unit but surrenders some of the offensive punch Chisholm brings. Caballero is a valuable utility option, but his bat does not match Chisholm’s upside.
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