One option in Jazz's absence is Volpe, who 'became Barry Bonds all of a sudden'

NEW YORK – Jazz Chisholm Jr. is being placed on the 10-day injured list after imaging revealed a sprained right thumb, putting the Yankees infielder’s availability in question for the remainder of the regular season.

Chisholm sustained the injury sliding into second base during the eighth inning of Tuesday night's 5-3 victory over the Rockies. Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Chisholm will have no baseball activities for seven to 10 days.

There are 18 regular-season games remaining for the Yankees, who are attempting to chase down the Rays for the top spot in the American League East. New York entered play Wednesday four games back in the division.

The injury came as Chisholm began to enjoy one of his first extended hot streaks of an otherwise underwhelming offensive season. He had reached base safely in 13 of his last 28 plate appearances (.464 on-base percentage).

“I feel like he has been really putting together some of his best at-bats of the season for an extended stretch,” Boone said. “So it’s definitely a blow, but hopefully one that the time down here gets this thing right and puts him in position to impact us moving forward.”

Overall, Chisholm has batted .232/.312/.403 with 19 homers, 55 RBIs and 40 stolen bases – hardly the stats he envisioned after speaking optimistically this spring about going 50/50 heading into a potential contract year.

José Caballero replaced Chisholm in the ninth inning on Tuesday, then started at second base for the Yankees on Wednesday.

Caballero could continue to see increased playing time in Chisholm’s absence. He has cooled after an impressive April, batting .235/.292/.372 with a career-high 13 homers and 47 RBIs in 123 games.

Boone said the team was discussing who they would promote in a corresponding move, and that Anthony Volpe “could be” an option.

Volpe was named the reigning International League Player of the Week after going 11-for-21 (.524) with three doubles, three homers, six RBIs, eight runs scored and five stolen bases from Sept. 1-6.

Yankees outfielder Jasson Domínguez recently said Volpe “became Barry Bonds all of a sudden” with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

“I feel like he’s in a really good spot,” Boone said of Volpe. “He’s been really productive down there and playing really well. He has taken well to the other positions. So we’ll see.”

Volpe struggled in 56 big league games this season after returning from offseason left shoulder surgery, batting .240/.325/.322 with one homer and 19 RBIs. He has worked to expand his versatility in Triple-A, making 19 starts at second base, three at third base and 15 at shortstop.

Entering Wednesday, Volpe had committed one error in 162 1/3 innings as a second baseman (.987 fielding percentage).

“I have a ton of respect for the person and the player,” Boone said. “He’s been a complete pro and completely gotten after it down there in everything they’ve thrown at him.”

Other choices for promotion from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre could include Max Schuemann and Oswaldo Cabrera. Schuemann was in Wednesday’s lineup at Rochester, but Cabrera was not and Volpe was a late scratch.

Luis García Jr. does not appear to be a candidate at second base, despite playing 129 games there last season for the Nationals.

“It’s one of the things we’ll talk about, but I mostly consider him at first [base] right now,” Boone said.