The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Miami Marlins’ farm system is ranked No.4 in the MLB, Jazz Chisholm remains the No.4 ranked prospect within the organisation and he also continues to make a strong case in his position battle at second base in Spring Training.

Chisholm hit his second home run of Grapefruit League Wednesday afternoon in the Marlins’ 3-2 win over the New York Mets at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.

Batting sixth in the lineup, Chisholm’s shot to right field travelled 366 feet and had a 112.7 exit velocity.

“I was really trying to just put balls in, play hard early in the spring, work from the ground up,” Chisholm said. “The last two games, me and a couple of the hitting coaches were just like, ‘All right, time to let it loose. The season’s almost around the corner. Let’s get it going and take some hacks, you know?’

“So today, [I] just was letting some loose and letting the hands work. I know they were big hacks, but I was working more hands still.”

Through 11 Grapefruit League games thus far, Chisholm is hitting .227 with two home runs with three RBI, one walk and one stolen base. He has gone 3-4 at the plate over the last two games.

Chisholm’s main competitor for the starting second base job, Isan Díaz, has hit .111 with one double, one triple, two RBI, five walks in 11 Grapefruit League games.

The Marlins Spring Training schedule has nine games remaining and concludes on March 28.

Marlins’ General Manager Kim Ng said performances in Spring Training emerging from the open competition between Chisholm, Diaz, and Jon Berti, will determine who wins the starting nod headed into the 2021 season.

In his debut MLB season, Chisholm started 17 games, 11 at second base.

“He’s a shortstop by nature, that’s pretty much what he’s been in whole life, but, obviously we have this position open at second base so we just need him to get prepared there,” Ng said of Chisholm.

“In terms of what he’s shown us there it has not looked like its been a hard transition for him.

“He just has tremendous tools - great agility, great feet, very quick twitch muscles and it has not looked like him moving to the other side has given him any problems.”