Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. says he's never worn protective cup after taking foul ball to groin

New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. says he’s never worn a protective cup during his professional baseball career. And the seven-year MLB veteran told reporters that will continue despite him taking a foul ball to his groin in Thursday’s 5-1 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

Chisholm left Thursday’s game in the fourth inning after hitting a foul ball that ricocheted off home plate into a very vulnerable area. He was in obvious pain, appearing to be near tears as trainers attenced to him on the field.

Perhaps knowing that Chisholm preferred not to protect that part of his body with equipment, his Yankees teammates including Aaron Judge and Trent Grisham were seen smiling and chuckling in the dugout while he was suffering. There was no update on Chisholm’s condition after the game.

Based on Chisholm talking to reporters on Friday, an injured list stint was not deemed necessary. Media and fans will surely appreciate the veteran’s candor regarding what happened, however.

Asked what his pain level was after being hit, Chisholm described it as “a million.”

“If you ever got hit in the testicles, you know,” he told reporters, including The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner.

Many observers couldn’t believe that Chisholm wasn’t wearing a protective cup considering the potential for taking a baseball to the groin at the plate or in the field. Yet he said he’s never worn one, even in the minors where it is required, because he trusts his abilty to protect himself defensively.

“I’ve never worn a cup. I’ve never got hit in the balls,” Chisholm said, via the New York Daily News’ Gary Phillips. “That was just unlucky.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked about a photo in which he was captured blowing a bubble with his gum, seemingly unconcerned while Chisholm was being evaluated.

“Well, there wasn’t much I was gonna do,” Boone told Kirschner. “I was just kind of waiting to see if it would subside. The trainer was down there and I didn’t want to get down there.”

“It wasn’t disrespect to Jazz and the pain he was experiencing,” he added.

Chisholm was also asked if his teammates teased him afterward in light of their reactions in the dugout.

“Not really,” he told Phillips. “They just was asking me how my balls felt.”

Chisholm is in Friday’s lineup against the Cincinnati Reds, batting fifth and playing second base.