There were legitimate concerns from New York Yankees diehards after their team dropped 13 of 19 games from July 2 to July 26, faltering heading into the Major League Baseball All-Star break and then to begin their post-break schedule. But since then, they flipped the script, winning eight of their previous nine games prior to hosting the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday in the Bronx to begin a three-game series. At 67-46 the Yankees were in a virtual tie with the 67-46 Baltimore Orioles for first place in the American League East.
The Yankees’ acquisition of infielder/outfielder Jazz Chisholm from the Florida Marlins on July 27 has energized the team. They surrendered three minor league prospects to obtain him. It’s not a coincidence the Yankees have been trending upward since landing the 26-year-old native of Nassau, Bahamas, who moved to Wichita, Kansas when he was 12. Â
In a 14-4 road win over the Philadelphia Phillies on July 29, Chisholm hit two home runs and played third base for the first time in his career. This came one day after playing center field at Fenway Park in the Yankees’ 8-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox.
His versatility is what the Yankees were hoping for in completing the trade, believingChisholm can bring needed athleticism both offensively and defensively to the team. As of Tuesday, the Yankees were 29th out of 30 teams in stolen bases per game at 0.42. However, Chisholm’s impact on the team’s future success will be determined by how he is utilized.
If employed as a disruptive base runner, he will greatly improve the Yankees as a unit that can manufacture runs on the base paths and not just rely on power. Chisholm’s 24 steals placed him tied for 11th in MLB before the series opener against the Angels. Yankees manager Aaron Boone putting shortstop Anthony Volpe (20 steals as of Tuesday) in front of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge proved successful until Volpe started to slump and was replaced as the leadoff hitter.Â
Batting leadoff, Chisholm’s experience and ability to steal bases would likely have pitchers throwing more fastballs to the Yankee sluggers who have been pitched around a lot this year. Judge was intentionally walked by the Toronto Blue Jays three times on Sunday in a 4-3 win. The last time a Yankees batter was intentionally walked three times in a game was Bernie Williams in September 1999. Judge went into Tuesday leading MLB with 41 homers. He and Soto were tied at the top of MLB with 94 walks.
In addition to Chisholm, the Yankees added relievers Mark Leiter Jr. and Enyel De Los Santos from the Chicago Cubs and San Diego Padres respectively to strengthen their bullpen. Nearly two more months of regular season baseball is ahead so the long-term impact of the moves the Yankees made will be determined. Short-term, they have already been beneficial.