New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisolm Jr. has been on the move since returning from the injured list on June 3, helping his team maintain its first place lead in the American League East. The Yankees were 42-30 when they hosted the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night in the Bronx.
Chisholm had been out since April 29 with a right oblique strain. Due to a possible season-ending injury to third baseman Oswaldo Cabrera, who suffered a fractured left ankle on May 12, changes were necessary to the infield.
When infielder DJ LeMahieu was activated from the injured list on May 12 after straining his left calf in March just two games into spring training, Chisholm was moved from second to third base by Yankees manager Aaron Boone, the position at which he began his Yankees tenure when the 27-year-old from Nassau, Bahamas was acquired by the team last July in a trade with the Miami Marlins. It was a case of going back to his future.
Chisholm rewarded the Yankees faith in acquiring him by agreeing to play the new position last year. Having never played third base in the Major Leagues prior to coming to the Yankees, he posted a .940 fielding percentage, which is above average for the position. Entering this season, Chisholm assumed his days at third were over, but the versatile speedster, who has also manned the outfield when needed, was called back into duty.
“I really thought I was done at 3rd base,” said Chisholm two weeks ago. “I thought I left my career over there with a good stamp, but I guess we’re back again”.
Chisolm’s ability to adapt has allowed the team to play LeMahieu at second, his natural position where he was a two-time All-Star (2015, 2017) with the Colorado Rockies before making the 2019 AL All-Star squad in his first season as a Yankee.
Chisolm and the Yankees’ 24-year-old third year shortstop Anthony Volpe are expected to form a dynamic double play combination and solidify the middle of the infield. The Yankees were ranked fourth in the league with a .987 fielding percentage and had committed 32 errors, sixth fewest overall in MLB heading into last night’s game.
After losing almost a month to injury, Chisolm has also made an impact offensively, leading the team with 10 stolen bases. After hitting a game-tying home run on June 3, his first game back in over a month, Chisholm affirmed his commitment to being a drive force in the Yankees pursuit of their first World Series title since 2009.
“This is my favorite organization I’ve ever been a part of. I just want to win. I want a ring.”
The Yankees will complete their four-game series versus the Angels today and begin a three-game weekend series in the Bronx against the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow.