Aaron Boone just dropped a bunch of injury updates, and while the news on Aaron Judge is still a gut punch with him likely out for the rest of the regular season, the Yankees are getting Jazz Chisholm Jr. back way sooner than some might have thought. That’s a huge boost, but it also means some real roster headaches for Boone as the team heads into its final regular season stretch.
Chisholm Is Back To Bring The Fire
Get ready, because Jazz Chisholm Jr. is set to return during the team’s final homestand, kicking off Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. Boone confirmed the second baseman is “really close,” saying Friday marked his fourth day in a row hitting, plus he’s already done a couple of throwing days. This guy was on an absolute tear before he got hurt, slashing a ridiculous .375/.464/.500 with a home run over his last seven games. Losing him on September 10 to a sprained thumb, which he jammed sliding head-first into second base, felt brutal. For the season, Chisholm’s batting .232/.312/.403 with a .715 OPS, 19 homers, 40 stolen bases, and 55 RBI. His speed and power are exactly what this team needs. The big question now is how Boone manages the playing time, especially since Anthony Volpe has been covering second base almost regularly in Chisholm’s absence, and Max Schuemann is coming up to fill Judge’s spot. This is gonna be a fascinating juggle to watch.
Weathers Out, Grisham Nearing A Return
On the flip side, we’re not gonna see LHP Ryan Weathers before the regular season ends. Boone made it clear that while Weathers has made some strides since hitting the IL in late August with a left forearm flexor strain, there just isn’t enough calendar left. His next side session on Saturday will be key, as that could determine if he’ll be an option for the postseason. Boone said, “We’ll see what our needs are and how he looks, and if we feel like he’s ready to come in and be a contributor.” Weathers has a 3.60 ERA and 1.22 WHIP across 25 starts this season, but his last seven starts were incredible: a 2.27 ERA and 1.18 WHIP. You know they want that version of him for October.
Meanwhile, veteran outfielder Trent Grisham is also nearing a return. Boone said he’s “pretty far” into his running progression and is doing well, potentially being activated before the season wraps. Grisham got hit with a right hamstring strain on September 5, the same injury he battled back in June. If Grisham is back on this upcoming homestand, Boone’s got more roster decisions to make, especially with Spencer Jones and Heliot Ramos filling in during his absence. The good news is, Judge’s injury gives Grisham a clear “runway to start,” particularly against right-handers. He’s slashing .211/.308/.395 with a .703 OPS in 121 games this season.
The Yankees kick off their final homestand on Tuesday against the Tampa Bay Rays. With these key players coming back and Judge out, every game is crucial for Boone to figure out his best lineup and pitching strategy heading into the postseason. It’s all about who steps up and how these pieces fit for a deep run.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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