Since his arrival at the New York Yankees following the trade from the Miami Marlins in July 2024, Jazz Chisholm Jr. has not stopped making headlines. His aggressive play, defiant attitude and, of course, his statistics have made fans divided between excitement and controversy. Despite the team’s ups and downs during the season, the second baseman has managed to stand out with a performance that can hardly be ignored.
In recent days, Jazz was back in the spotlight after completing his first 162 games with the Yankees. The infielder has 40 home runs, 97 RBIs, 99 runs scored, 48 stolen bases and an .823 OPS. These are superstar numbers and MLB analyst Ben Verlander, brother of Justin Verlander, made that clear:
Those are SUPERSTAR numbers. Stop criticizing and put some respect on his name
Jazz Chisholm Jr. divides fans but fires up Yankees
Beyond the numbers, what has generated controversy is his personality, Chisholm has been criticized for his body language on the field and his friction with umpires, but Ben Verlander was quick to highlight what he brings behind the scenes
He’s a great guy. I love talking baseball with him. He’s amazing for this sport. He plays in the biggest market in the world and does whatever the team asks of him. Jazz Chisholm Jr. brings an energy that this team desperately needed
That energy is also reflected in his statements, after a resounding series win against the Boston Red Sox, the player said:
We are the best team in the league. To any team that thinks they are better than us, I just tell them that when they step on the field, know that we are coming with everything. We are going to step on necks, we are not here to play, we are here to do the job and fulfill the mission
Yankees’ irregular season, but Chisholm aims for 30/40
While Jazz’s words caused surprise, his individual performance backs up his confidence. With just one home run pending to achieve his 30/40 season, the 26-year-old is reaching his best form at the most important time of the calendar.
Although the bullpen has been one of the team’s weak points, the spark that Jazz brings with the bat and his aggressiveness on the bases has given a different air to a squad that many considered predictable. And if one thing is clear this season, it’s that with Chisholm on the diamond, the Yankees will never be a boring team.
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