Yankees Jazz Chisholm Jr. takes bold stance on return from injury

New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. hopes to skip a step as he continues working his way back from injury. 

Chisholm has been sidelined since April 29 after suffering a high-grade strain to his right oblique. After a hot start to the season, the 29-year-old former All-Star cooled down, slashing a mere .181/.304/.714, but has hit seven home runs in 30 games. The Yankees believed it would take 4-6 weeks for Chisholm to return, which is looking to be an accurate timetable as he gets closer to returning. 

As The New York Post's Mark Sanchez shared, while at a charity event on Tuesday in the Bronx, Chisholm spoke about how he was progressing in his recovery and boldly hopes to avoid a trip to the minor leagues for a rehab assignment. 

“We’re pretty close,” Chisholm said. “I don’t like to do rehab assignments. I’ve never really been a fan of it." 

Though Chisholm does not want to participate in a rehab assignment before returning to the Yankees, Sanchez shared how manager Aaron Boone believes he would probably need to visit an affiliate, even if for a game, but was not sure yet.

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“I would think whether it’s a game, whether it’s a game or two, we’ll probably do something,” Boone said Tuesday. “But it’s not something we’ve talked about really yet.”

Chisholm is beginning to swing against a high-velocity pitching machine, which should help the infielder ramp up as he prepares to return to the Yankees, but it is unclear if Boone will send him down to a minor league affiliate for a rehab assignment. Either way, New York will be happy to have Chisholm return soon. 

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