by Seneca Sumners
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s return to the Yankees has been nothing short of electric. Activated from the injured list on June 3rd, after missing nearly a month with a strained right oblique, Chisholm immediately made his presence felt.
In his very first game back, he belted a go ahead homer in the seventh inning, sparking a 3-2 win over Cleveland. It was the type of dramatic entrance only Jazz can deliver as he danced across the plate in a signature Eurostep to celebrate the blast. That was just a taste of what was to come.
Over his first four games off the IL, Chisholm has been on fire, recording eight hits in 16 at-bats, including two towering homers, six RBI, and three stolen bases, raising his average from .181 to .223 in the process. But don’t let the low average fool you. Jazz still has a 118 wRC+ which is on track to be his highest if can stay healthy.
The “70% strategy” he’s employed – an approach emphasizing control and calm rather than all or nothing – has allowed him to harness his talent more efficiently. Instead of swinging for the fences every pitch, he’s focused on squared-up contact and smart aggression. The result? A hot streak that’s bolstered his OPS to around .797.
Perhaps most impressive is his versatility. Though he opened the season at second base, the team needed depth at third. With DJ Lemahieu coming off the IL, the Yanks asked Jazz if he was willing to go back to third. Chisholm embraced the shift without complaint, providing Gold Glove-level defense alongside his offense.
Manager Aaron Boone has praised his ability to lengthen the lineup and impact games in multiple ways. Of course, baseball being baseball, there have been small bumps as day to day groin and neck tightness have popped up, but so far nothing has derailed the resurgence. For now, Chisholm remains a big piece in New York, electrifying the Yankees and their fans with big swings, blazing speed, and that joyful energy.
