The Tribune

By TENAJH SWEETING

Tribune Sports Reporter

tsweeting@tribunemedia.net

If the New York Yankees’ spring training is any indication, Major League Baseball (MLB) pro Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr will be a force to be reckoned with at second base for the upcoming MLB season.

Chisholm Jr smashed his second homer of the Yankees spring training yesterday in the team’s 9-7 victory against the Philadelphia Phillies at the BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida.

The Bronx Bombers had control of the game through three innings with a three-run lead.

“Jazz” entered the scoring barrage early for New York. He sent Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker’s fastball 387 feet to the right centre field for his second homer of the Yankees spring training.

Chisholm’s two-run shot allowed Yankees’ left fielder Jasson Dominiguez to score and put the Yanks in charge 3-0 at the top of the third. He was involved in the action again at the top of the fourth inning. He singled to right field which put Dominguez in the position to score his second run and helped first baseman Cody Bellinger to move to third base.

The Yankees were in the driver’s seat eight runs to none at the top of the sixth inning before a five-run seventh inning by the Phillies shifted the score 9-7 to close out the matchup. 

‘Jazz’ had a solid game against the Phillies. He finished batting 2-for-3 with a homer, one run scored and 3RBIs (runs batted in). 

This was Chisholm’s second game with a home run during the Yankees Spring Training run. He went yard in New York’s 6-5 loss against the St Louis Cardinals earlier this month. He connected on a fastball from Cardinals pitcher Andre Callante to put the Yankees ahead 2-1 at the top of the third inning in that game.

Chisholm Jr is batting .173 with two homers, seven runs scored and six RBIs during the 15 games played for the Yankees Spring Training.

With the 2025 MLB season just a week away, ‘Jazz’ seems poised to have another great season.

This time around the versatile baseball pro will be making his return to second base for the first time since his tenure with the Marlins. He will move to his natural position after playing at the “hot corner” in his first season with the Yankees.

Despite it being the first time he played at the position in his career, the 27-year-old turned some heads in his new role last season. He had arguably the best statistical output of his career in the Big Apple. He played in 46 games for the Yankees and batted .273 with 48 hits, 11 homers, 23 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

Additionally, he played in 147 games, the most of his career, and batted .256 with career highs of 74 runs, 24 homers, 73 RBIs and 40 stolen bases.

He closed out last season with a 4-1 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series but made history as the second Bahamian to make it to that stage and the first Bahamian to hit a homerun at the World Series.

As for MLB Spring Training, the Yankees will take on the Baltimore Orioles tonight at 8:05pm at the Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, Florida.

The 2025 MLB Season begins on March 27.