Yankees Second Baseman Opts Against Protective Gear Despite Painful Foul
New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is continuing to forgo wearing a protective cup, even after recently experiencing a painful foul ball to the groin earlier this week. Despite medical advice and baseball’s customary practice, Chisholm remains steadfast in his decision.
“If you don’t trust your hands, I would recommend wearing a cup,” Chisholm commented before Friday’s victory against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. “I feel like it’s more defensively that you would wear a cup than hitting. At the same time, I just never thought about wearing a cup.”
The incident occurred just a day prior when Chisholm fouled a 2-2 curveball from Chicago White Sox pitcher Sean Burke off his groin. When asked to describe his pain level during the moment of impact, Chisholm grimaced, stating, “a million.” Despite the discomfort, Chisholm was feeling better by Friday and went on to hit a home run in the Yankees’ 5-0 shutout win over the Reds.
A Consistent Stance on Protection
Following the game, Chisholm revealed that he has never worn a protective cup, not even during his time in the minor leagues, where such equipment is mandated. “I’ve never worn a cup,” he reiterated. “I’m not going to change. Just an unlucky instance right there.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone expressed surprise that many current players choose to risk injury by not wearing cups. Boone, a third-generation professional player whose own career spanned from 1997 to 2009, emphasized the importance of protective gear.
“In December going to hit soft toss, I put a cup on,” Boone stated. “That’s the difference between this generation and my generation. I did nothing without a cup baseball related. The first time I heard Adrian Beltre didn’t wear a cup, blew my mind, but now I know a lot of these guys don’t wear cups.”
Boone recalled that fellow third baseman Adrian Beltre once sustained a testicular injury from a ground ball to the groin. However, many players find cups to be uncomfortable and restrictive, particularly outfielders who report that the padding can impede their defensive range.
