Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. looking forward to enjoying Home Run Derby
Jazz Chisholm Jr. #13 of the New York Yankees runs to the dugout after the first inning against the Chicago Cubs at Yankee Stadium on Friday, July 11, 2025. Credit: Jim McIsaac
In handicapping the All-Star Game Home Run Derby, Jazz Chisholm Jr. declared Oneil Cruz of Pittsburgh one of the big favorites.
But Cruz had better watch out for Mr. 70%.
“For me, I'm just going to go out there, have fun – be 70% [and] don’t do too much,” said Chisholm, repeating his oft-repeated philosophy about approaching the game. “Just hit a couple homers, you know? Hopefully I win it by doing that.”
After the Yankees beat Seattle on Wednesday night, Chisholm was asked if he’d want to participate in the Home Run Derby and sounded amenable. Before they completed the sweep of the Mariners on Thursday night, Chisholm was given the invitation to compete and accepted it.
His stepfather, Geron Sands, will pitch to him.
“I’m pretty excited,” Chisholm said. “It’s pretty cool. And I’ll have my stepdad throw to me. We’ll be having a lot of fun.”
Chisholm missed 28 games earlier this season with an oblique injury but has been on a hitting tear since. After returning on June 3, he was batting .314 with 10 of his 17 home runs and 26 of his 43 RBIs entering play Friday night against the Cubs at the Stadium.
The Derby can raise concerns about getting hurt trying to hit home runs or untracking a hitter’s swing.
“He's playing at a really high level, and I think in a really good place physically,” manager Aaron Boone said. “But he has had some things that have slowed him at different times this year . . . But at the same time, you don't want to stand in the way of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “Every individual player ultimately should make that decision [of] going up against those guys.”
Asked if he’s sought opinions of other players who have been in the Home Run Derby – Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton have won it – Chisholm said he hadn’t.
“I'm just going out there to have fun,” he said. “I’m [not] trying to think that hard about it. I'm not even going to really practice for it. The only person that really needs to practice is my stepdad.
“[I] might catch a couple that go further than the others,” Chisholm said, “but just try to be accurate [and] consistent more than trying to hit the ball further than Oneil Cruz.”
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
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