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The New York Yankees have moved Jazz Chisholm Jr. back to his natural position at second base. The 27-year-old All-Star had been playing third base since June, following his return from an oblique injury. Yankees manager Aaron Boone announced the change before Tuesday's (July 8) game against the Seattle Mariners, stating that Chisholm's athleticism is better utilized at second base.
Chisholm has been dealing with right shoulder soreness, which has affected his throwing ability more than his hitting. Despite this, he has maintained an impressive .308/.380/.589 slash line with eight home runs in 29 games since returning from the injured list. Boone hopes that the move back to second will help Chisholm and the team, as reported by MLB.com.
With Chisholm returning to second base, DJ LeMahieu will transition to a reserve role. LeMahieu, who has struggled with injuries and performance, is not currently a candidate for third base due to physical challenges. Boone described LeMahieu as "a bat off the bench" and noted that the Yankees are actively seeking upgrades at third base before the trade deadline.
Oswald Peraza, who started at third base on Tuesday, offers strong defense but has struggled offensively. The Yankees are reportedly interested in several third basemen, including the Rockies' Ryan McMahon and the Cardinals' Nolan Arenado, as reported by Yahoo Sports.
Chisholm, who was traded from the Miami Marlins last season, expressed his preference for playing second base, stating, "Everybody knows I’m a second baseman." His performance at second base has been significantly better than at third, with a plus-3 outs above average compared to a minus-3 at third base.
The Yankees are currently 49-41 and trail the Toronto Blue Jays by 3.5 games in the AL East. Boone's decision to move Chisholm back to second base comes as the team looks to regain control of the division and strengthen their infield defense.