The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

A LINGERING back issue that originally sent Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr to the 10-day injured list will sideline the Miami Marlins’ infielder for an extended period of time.

The Miami Herald first reported that a CT scan revealed a stress fracture in Chisholm’s back that will force the All-Star second baseman to miss approximately six weeks with the injury. September is targeted as the earliest timetable for a possible return.

The Marlins concluded their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday with a 6-5 win that brought their record to 45-50, fourth in the National League East. They remain six games behind in the fight for a wild card spot in the second half of the season.

Marlins’ manager Don Mattingly addressed Chisholm’s situation prior to Friday’s season opener against the Pirates.

“You feel bad,” he said. “He’s having a really good year, and obviously made the All-Star team. You got a feeling something was wrong when he wasn’t able to get to that All-Star Game and be able to play because we knew it was something that he would have pushed himself to get to be able to play.”

Chisholm discussed his injury progress last week on Fox Sports’ coverage of the All-Star Game and was medically ruled out despite his best efforts to take the field at Dodger Stadium.

“Honestly, I can still swing. I can’t run at full speed right now but I can swing,” he said.

“So I was really asking them, just let me get in there and jog to first base. I can catch a ground ball I can move on defence a little bit so let me just go and play a little defence, let me get an at-bat at least, let me show off a little something, I’m here for it.”

The back injury has been the only blemish to Chisholm’s historic All-Star season thus far.

Despite missing 34 games this year, he leads the Marlins in home-runs (14), RBI (45), and OPS (.860).

Through 60 games, he has a .254 batting average, slugging .325 with a .535 OBP.

He is the first-ever Bahamian-born All-Star and from the Marlins’ perspective, he joined Hanley Ramírez, Dee Strange-Gordon, Marcell Ozuna, Gary Sheffield, and Giancarlo Stanton as the only Marlins to be fan-elected starters.

One of Chisholm’s many highlights this season came during a four-game stretch following a “players only” meeting that addressed several clubhouse concerns, one of which reportedly centred around Chisolm’s personality and approach to the game.

He responded by hitting .375 with four homers, nine RBI, and seven runs scored over the course of the next four games, all wins for Miami.

Immediately following the June 8 meeting, Chisholm blasted two home runs, including his first grand slam and a career-high six high RBI to power the Marlins’ 12-2 win over the Nationals at loanDepot Park in Miami, Florida.

He discussed his approach to criticism with the MLB Tonight crew on MLB Network.

“I think have a tool that’s called ‘I don’t care’ and I use it to my fullest potential. I just go out there and have fun,” he said.

“The game blesses me every day to come out here and be able to enjoy it and especially a place like Miami where anybody would kill to live so to play a professional sport here is even more amazing so I just go out there with that attitude because I don’t care what anyone else has to say, I’m just out here living my life and enjoying the game. The game doesn’t owe anyone anything and it’s given me a lot so I just have fun with it.”

Chisholm has taken the Miami, Florida area by storm with his bright blue coloured hair and his spectacular performance as a starting infielder at shortstop and second base.

Inspired by his play and charisma, Bahamian culture took centre stage as the Marlins hosted its second “Bahamian Heritage Night” on June 27.

A crowd of 18,722 filled the stadium, the third largest crowd of any Marlins home game this season, as opposed to the 7,500 that attended the first Bahamian Heritage night in 2021.

Chisholm wore Bahamian flag themed cleats, batting gloves, and a bandanna to commemorate the occasion.