Jazz Chisholm Jr. is as confident with his rehab timeline as he is with a microphone in front of him. On Friday afternoon, the injured Yankees second baseman told reporters that he thinks he could return to the lineup “in about a week and a half at the longest.”
That’s the kind of optimism fans want to hear, but manager Aaron Boone called it “optimistic,” and no one is sure if it is realistic.
Chisholm, who was on the field before the Friday night Subway Series opener taking ground balls, has been sidelined since late April with a high-grade oblique strain, an injury known for being tricky and slow to heal.
While his competitive nature has him already eyeing a return, the Yankees are expected to be cautious, not wanting to risk a setback for a key piece of their lineup. In the meantime, they’ve patched together infield coverage with DJ LeMahieu, Oswald Peraza, and young prospect Jorbit Vivas getting increased reps.
Of course, just because Chisholm isn’t in the lineup right now for the Subway Series, it doesn’t mean he’s staying quiet. In a recent appearance on the Joe and Jada podcast, Chisholm took a subtle shot at Juan Soto when asked to comment on his return to the Bronx for the Subway Series. His response? “I mean, I love being a Yankee, so that’s it.”
Even from the sidelines, Chisholm is making sure his loyalty to the Yankees is loud and clear.
And while he won’t be available for this weekend’s much-anticipated series against the Mets, he’s already circling a return to the field and back into the spotlight.
