Jazz Chisholm, Yankees in same groove on move to third
Jazz Chisholm Jr. of the New York Yankees warms up before a game against the Cleveland Guardians at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. Credit: Jim McIsaac
You could say that Jazz Chisholm Jr., back Tuesday night after missing five weeks with an oblique strain, looked like he never left.
Aside from now standing on the opposite side of the infield. Again. Just like last year.
“I really thought I was done at third base,” Chisholm said, smiling. “I’m not going to lie to you. I didn’t think I was going to see it. I thought I left my career over there with a good stamp, you know? But I guess we’re back again. We got to shine again. We can’t let that reputation go down at third base.”
No worries, Jazz. After playing his first 29 games this season at second base, his best position, then being sidelined for over a month, Chisholm did it all in Tuesday’s return as a third baseman. He made a stellar backhanded play deep behind the bag in the third inning, was responsible for the Yankees’ first hit (single) and run in the fifth, then added the go-ahead homer in the seventh to deliver a 3-2 victory over the Guardians.
“It’s nice to have him back,” said Carlos Rodon, who was a direct beneficiary as he improved to 8-3 with a 2.49 ERA. “The speed, the dynamic he brings to the game, and obviously defensively.”
Not to mention the selflessness. As Chisholm alluded to, the Yankees’ 2025 blueprint had him listed as the second baseman. It was the plan in spring training, and Chisholm was firmly back in his middle-infielder mindset after last season’s third-base experiment, which began with his deadline acquisition from the Marlins.
But then stuff happened during Chisholm’s absence, primarily the season-ending ankle fracture suffered by Oswaldo Cabrera and the return of the perpetually-injured DJ LeMahieu, who took up residence at second, where he’s won a trio of Gold Gloves. So through no fault of his own, Chisholm was put upon to be the flexible guy again.
When it came time to begin his rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset, Chisholm first asked manager Aaron Boone where he wanted him to the play down there. Though his preference is always second base, Chisholm sees himself as a Yankee, first and foremost. So moving across the diamond was no big thing.
“I just want to win,” Chisholm said. “I want a ring. All I think about is being a team guy. I want to help my team win and this is my favorite organization I’ve ever been a part of.”
Imagine that. Maybe such team-first behavior comes naturally for Chisholm, but it’s not automatic everywhere. Ask the Red Sox, who have been butting heads with their $313 million franchise cornerstone Rafael Devers since spring training over where he should or should not be playing.
To be fair, the Sox seemed to screw up the Devers situation from the start, as a lack of communication involving the winter signing of Alex Bregman -- who wound up taking Devers' third-base job -- probably made his move to DH a lot more irritating than it needed to be. But the problem only snowballed from there, as injuries to both Bregman and first baseman Triston Casas -- another potential corner infield spot for Devers -- compelled both sides to double down. Devers refused to give first base a try, and subsequently, after Bregman went down, the Sox refused to put him back at third.
Chisholm’s scenario isn’t exactly the same. Devers is Boston’s homegrown star, along with being the team’s highest-paid player, as opposed to being a recent deadline import like Chisholm. But that doesn’t mean Jazz can’t greatly enhance his role on a World Series contender by doing whatever’s necessary to get them to the ultimate goal and all of that was on display Tuesday night.
After not getting any ground balls during his rehab stay at Somerset, Chisholm was tested early on Angel Martinez’s sharp bouncer down the line and he made a nifty backhanded stab, finished with a strong throw that Paul Goldschmidt scooped. In the fifth inning, Chisholm’s one-out single was the Yankees’ first hit off Guardians starter Tanner Bibee, and he later hustled home from second on LeMahieu’s opposite-field single to break the scoreless tie.
“To jump right back in and impact the game in such profound ways,” Boone said. “I’m sure it feels really good.”
Chisholm then made a good return even better with a tie-breaking blast in the seventh inning -- his eighth homer of the season -- followed by his customary chomp on the shoulder of assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler at the dugout rail. The Bronx just feels more fun when Chisholm is around, regardless of where he happens to be, or what position he’s at. The vibe is the same, and it’s unique among the guys wearing pinstripes.
“I love this city already,” Chisholm said. “I’ve only been here for about nine or 10 months, but the love it has shown me makes me feel like I’ve been here my whole career, like I came up through the organization and everything. So for me it’s just great to be back playing in this uniform.”
The first-place Yankees did fine standings-wise as Chisholm healed up from the oblique strain, but it wasn’t until Tuesday night that they truly realized how much they missed him. The feeling clearly was mutual.
“Honestly, I pictured going three-for-three,” Chisholm said with a grin. “But I’ll take a two-for-three. This is how I wanted to start my comeback.”
And third base is fine, too.
David Lennon is an award-winning columnist, a voter for baseball's Hall of Fame and has covered six no-hitters, including two perfect games.
