Spencer Jones of the New York Yankees missed Saturday's game due to a sore left foot/heel injury sustained from playing on turf. Despite downplaying the issue, manager Aaron Boone opted to rest Jones and start José Caballero instead. The Yankees are facing roster complications with key players like Aaron Judge injured, leading them to prioritize defensive versatility over offensive potential in replacements.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-09-20,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Spencer Jones, a rookie outfielder for the Yankees, missed a game against the Diamondbacks due to a sore left foot/heel. The injury occurred after Jones jammed his heel during a game in Minnesota and further aggravated it while playing on Chase Field's turf in Phoenix. Despite calling it "no big deal," the team decided to bench him as a precautionary measure, given the recent string of injuries including Aaron Judge, who was sidelined with a right calf strain.
Manager Aaron Boone downplayed the severity of Jones' injury but noted that he almost kept Jones in the lineup despite the discomfort. Instead, José Caballero started in center field for the second time this season as a replacement. The Yankees are carefully monitoring injuries to avoid further setbacks during their challenging stretch of games.
Written for “Yankees Player Injury” on 2026-10-04,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
In case the Yankees weren’t dealing with enough injury headaches for a 6-foot-7 slugger, Spencer Jones was out of the lineup Saturday with a sore left foot/heel.
asserted
Jones → deal → heel
The rookie outfielder claimed it was “no big deal” and chalked it up to the wear and tear of playing on Chase Field’s turf Friday night after jamming his heel in Minnesota earlier this week.
asserted
it → claim → Minnesota
Try it freeBut after the Yankees just lost Aaron Judge to the injured list again with a right calf strain, the last thing they needed was Jones nursing an injury of his own.
asserted
Jones → try → own
“Just a little banged up,” Jones said before Saturday’s game against the Diamondbacks.
asserted
Jones → bang → Diamondbacks
“Playing on turf is different, hard on the feet.”
asserted
Playing → play → feet
Aaron Boone also downplayed it, adding that he still almost kept Jones in the lineup before sitting him in favor of José Caballero, who started in center field for the second time this season.
“Just felt like especially being on the turf here, he kind of jammed that heel in Minnesota and being on the turf [Friday], so I think it’s just a day-to-day kind of thing,” Boone said.
asserted
Boone → downplay → thing
“I even view him as available tonight.”
asserted
I → view → him
Boone said he preferred to keep Cody Bellinger in left field instead of shifting him to center.
asserted
he → say → center
“I considered moving him to center, but Belli’s grinding too and the turf here kind of beats you up,” he said.
asserted
he → consider → you
“There’s some scenarios where I would move him to center.
asserted
I → ’ → center
Tonight, just being on the turf and as much as he’s been through this year, I didn’t want to move him.”
asserted
I → want → him
When the Yankees officially placed Judge on the 10-day injured list Saturday, they opted for defensive versatility over offensive upside in his replacement.
asserted
they → place → replacement
That meant calling up Max Schuemann instead of Jasson Domínguez, giving the former another shot in the big leagues for at least a few days beginning this weekend against the Diamondbacks.
asserted
That → mean → Diamondbacks
“Adding his versatility to our bench makes some sense,” Boone said.
asserted
Boone → add → sense
Schuemann’s stay may be brief, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. potentially returning from the IL as soon as the upcoming series against the Rays at Yankee Stadium that begins Tuesday.
uncertain
that → return → Stadium
If Schuemann goes back to Triple-A to make room, he would not be available to be recalled for 10 days (unless he was replacing an injured player again), essentially ruling him out as an option for the AL wild-card series.
asserted
he → go → series
That may have played a part in Domínguez not getting the call this time, in case the Yankees wanted to use him as a pinch-running threat on their playoff roster.
uncertain
Yankees → play → roster
The 23-year-old also offers value as a switch-hitter, but he has proven to be a defensive liability in the outfield.
asserted
he → offer → outfield
The Yankees’ trip to Chase Field gave them a chance to reunite with former teammate Jonathan Loáisiga, who has finally stayed healthy for a full season in the Diamondbacks bullpen.
asserted
who → give → bullpen
The right-hander often flashed his talent during his eight-year tenure with the Yankees, but injuries too often got in the way.
asserted
injuries → flash → way
This season, though, after signing a minor league deal with the Diamondbacks, Loáisiga has avoided the IL and pitched in a career-high 64 games with a 2.32 ERA entering Saturday.
asserted
Loáisiga → sign → Saturday
“Been through a lot of battles over the years with Jonny,” Boone said.
asserted
Boone → say → Jonny
“It’ll be great to see him.
asserted
It → see → him
Hopefully we can ding him a little bit here.
asserted
we → ding → him
I know he’s had a really strong year, which I’m excited about for him.
asserted
I → know → him
He’s such a talented guy that for him, it’s always been about just being healthy.
asserted
it → ’ → him
So the fact that he’s gone out there and had a largely healthy season, I’m not surprised at the success he’s had.
asserted
he → go → success
The Diamondbacks held a 25th-anniversary celebration Saturday of their 2001 World Series team that beat the Yankees in seven games.
asserted
that → hold → games
The Aporia
