Miami Marlins budding superstar Jazz Chisholm Jr. is without question the face of the franchise down in South Florida, and this season his star-power is set to soar even higher.
Already the poster boy for this year’s MLB The Show 2023, the official video game of Major League Baseball, there was another announcement this offseason that could add even more cache to his name. Fresh off his first All-Star campaign as a second baseman, the Marlins announced that he will switch positions and man centerfield for Miami this season.
In his first game at the position, Jazz took the collar (0-for-4, 2 Ks) in a 5-3 Miami Marlins loss to the New York Mets on Opening Day. However, better days are surely ahead for the Marlins star with 161 games to go.
Naturally, people immediately questioned the idea of moving someone who has played infield their entire lives to the outfield, but the idea to make the switch was actually made by Jazz himself.
“I mean it was really my decision,” said Chisholm during a media session in Miami. “So it wasn’t really a like time to be like, ‘oh I’m probably gonna go train because they’re gonna put me in the outfield.’ It was more like, ‘Ok imma go in the outfield because I want to win.”
This quote reminded me of what Jazz said when he spoke to me for MLBBro.com at the beginning of last season in regard to a different position change. As we all know, Chisholm came up as a shortstop and that was his preferred position, but the ‘Bahamian Blur ‘ was willing to switch positions in order to win.
“I just started playing second base when I got to the big leagues. I do have a preference of shortstop, but learning a new position ain’t bad.”
Jazz’s words turned out to be prophetic, as he adapts to another position in the pros in order to help the Marlins bring winning baseball back to Little Havana. He has already made it known that he plans to bring the same mentality that helped him turn heads at second to his new position, even predicting a Gold Glove.
“Like I remember last year when I went out there and I did my early work every day before games, I would always learn every field that I’ve been on. I feel like that helped me a lot defensively, so I just plan on doing that everyday again. Just going out there taking a couple steps on the warning track before the game, figure it out a little bit and then go and play.”
Moving from second base to centerfield alters the pantheon of MLBbros that Chisholm will enter, as some of the greatest Black players of all-time have manned the position. Names like Willie Mays, Ken Griffey Jr., Torii Hunter and Kenny Lofton; these are some legendary leather flashers he can look to for inspiration.
Hall of Famer Tim Raines Made The Switch
Now, the players we mentioned before had played the position their entire lives, but there is another OG MLBbro who not only made the switch from second base to outfield, but he also played the position well enough to make it all the way to Cooperstown. Montreal Expos great Tim Raines came up as a second baseman in their farm system before becoming an outfielder full time in 1985. Raines went on to become a seven-time All Star, Silver Slugger and two-time World Series Champion.
Chisholm still has work to do in order to accomplish the things that these greats have done, and the first step to that will be staying healthy the majority of the season. That was the one knock on his last season, as injuries allowed him to compete in only 60 games last season.
It’s so funny when I play 155 games this year the bandwagon gonna be so real and I don’t wanna hear it!! Your tweets have been bookmarked! #keepdoubting
The World Series is upon us and wouldn’t you know it, there are no more MLBbro players left to play this season! The only representative in the October classic is Houston Astros manager, Dusty Baker, who is four wins from cleaning up the franchise’s reputation and finalizing the last goal on his iconic resume with his first World Series title as a manager.
But that doesn’t mean that MLBbro.com can’t get started on next year with three potential superstars that are oozing with talent and built to turn baseball into must-see TV next season.
Jazz “The Bahamian Blur” Chisholm:
The Miami Marlins franchise remains one of the most overlooked pro franchises in sports today. Why? Because in sports, a team has to have a big-time name to attract fans and national attention. Winning helps too and despite owning two World Series championships, the Marlins have mostly had losing seasons while going through name, managerial, front office and philosophical changes that keep the team without a selling point to the fanbase.
Until now…
MLBbro Jazz Chisholm aka “The Bahamian Blur” is the first player in the Marlins franchise in years that will make people leave their homes, pay for parking, buy a ticket and watch the games. This guy alone could lift the blackout in Miami when it comes to baseball on television. While Chisolm is still developing as a player, his presence alone brings a certain level of energy and relevance that resonates with local fans and the younger generation. The charismatic baller does have major game and if he stays injury free should be a shoo-in to make the NL All-Star squad next season.
With the Marlins ownership being notorious for ignoring big name free agents while letting their own budding talent leave for bigger paydays, this MLBbro is the last man standing for a team that is last on the sports priority list in South Beach.
When the developers of the “MLB The Show 22 select a player as a part of the “Faces of the Franchises” section of a video game and produce the recreation of his Euro Step home run celebration, it’s a clear sign that Chisholm has arrived to potential superstar status.
“Money” Michael Harris II
This MLBro rookie has been so dominant in such a short time, he’ll get two different analysis styles.
First let’s do the Hollywood version (In 30 for 30 voice) …
What if I told you that there was this young player that grew up less than an hour from Truist Park admiring Andruw Jones and Chipper Jones, who gets called up in the middle of the season and won the NL Rookie of the Year Award?
Now let’s talk about reality…
It only took 29 games for Michael Harris II to shoot to the top of the list as the best rookie in baseball. His high batting average is remarkable considering he SKIPPED Triple A baseball and was called to the roster on May 31st. If he does officially take the Rookie of the Year award, he sits next to Willie McCovey as the only award winners with such a small percentage of service time.
Not only that, but Harris II has made sure that no one gets selective memory about the consistency he’s displayed. Our MLBbro collected three NL Rookie of the Month awards in four months including the last month of the season with a batting average of .324, six home runs, 19 RBI and five doubles. His defense is all-world too. Expect some Gold Glove level defense in the future with a rocket for an arm that would make Bo Jackson proud!
The Atlanta Braves didn’t waste time locking Harris up long term once it was obvious that he was a special player with ties to the community, that could be a face of the franchise for years to come. In August, Harris, a product of MLB’s diversity programs (Breakthrough Series) inked an eight-year extension worth $72 million, with a two-year club option that could push the deal to 10-years, $102 million. With season averages of .297 at the plate, 19 home runs and 64 RBI in less than a full season of work, yesterday’s price has already gone up for Money Mike’s services.
Triston “Dr. Sticks” McKenzie
At the beginning of the season, this MLBbro was called “Dr. Sticks” due to his ultra-skinny 6-foot-5, 165-pound frame. The questions reporters used to throw at him often focused on his physical composition and not his golden arm.
“I don’t know how I stay so slender. I feel like I eat a decent amount. I think it’s just how my body works. I believe baseball is very taxing. I feel like I burn through a lot of what I eat. I’d say throwing the way I do is me learning my body and learning what makes me feel good and being consistent day in and day out.”
By midseason, everybody in baseball was talking about the generational arm talent that McKenzie possessed as he devastated hitters with his repertoire, reminiscent of legendary MLBbros such as Dwight Gooden, Dave Stewart and Bullet Bob Gibson.
McKenzie completed his final start of the season allowing one earned run and registering four strikeouts without a walk, which continued a streak of 11 consecutive starts of allowing three runs or less matched only by co-ace Shane Bieber for the team lead in 2022. McKenzie’s ERA of 2.96 made him the first Cleveland pitcher under the age of 24 to boast an ERA under 3.00 since the Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley back in 1975.
With that strong ERA, 191.1 innings pitched, and 190strikeouts, Triston McKenzie is not only the Guardians most consistent starter. He continued his mastery in his first playoff start against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Enjoy the World Series but put these three MLBbros on your early list to make the All-Star team and contend for postseason awards in 2023.
Black baseball will be displayed around the globe during the 2023 World Baseball Classic. In addition to superstars Mookie Betts, Cedric Mullins and Tim Anderson, who will be playing for Team USA and the legendary Ken Griffey Jr. who will serve as the team’s hitting coach, we have some Bros that will be repping other countries.
Despite a back injury putting an early end to his 2022 season, Jazz Music will be heard around the world during the World Baseball Classic. Chisholm, who was born in the Bahamas (a former British colony) will be playing for Team Great Britain for the second time since 2017.
Before a stress fracture in his back basically ended his season before July, Chisholm was a strong candidate to start at second for the National League in the All-Star Game, and maybe even earn himself a few MVP votes.
Live At The Ball Park | Exclusive Interview With Miami Marlins “Bahamian Blur” Jazz Chisolm
He led Miami in almost every offensive statistic and yet there was a point this season where his teammates thought his flashy outfits and bat flips were too much of a distraction. A few weeks ago, it came out that Chisholm had surgery to repair a torn meniscus he suffered back in Spring Training, meaning he was one of the top 10 players in baseball on just one leg.
Marcus Stroman
In the championship game of the last World Baseball Classic Marcus Stroman went six no hit innings to lead Team USA to an 8-0 win over Puerto Rico.
This time he will still be rocking red, white and blue, but this time it will be for the same Puerto Rico team he dominated. Stroman, who has a 2.50 ERA in his last six starts this season was named the Most Valuable Player last WBC after throwing 15.1 innings and finishing with a 2.35 ERA. He will be joining one of the best teams in the tournament from top to bottom and be managed by future Hall of Famer Yadier Molina, who is retiring after this season.
LaTroy Hawkins
LaTroy Hawkins who pitched 21 seasons as a Major League reliever will be a coach for Team Brazil in this year’s Classic. Hawkins finished his career with a 4.31 ERA and pitched for Team USA back in the 2009 WBC.
LaTroy Hawkins mic'd up and talking about Angels prospect Reid Detmers' "sneaky-ass wind-up" during the Futures Game. 😂
— CJ Fogler AKA Perc70 #BlackLivesMatter (@cjzero) May 28, 2022
Hawkins who is now a color commentator for the Minnesota Twins has hosted and coached in Baseball camps held in the country and will serve as their pitching coach.
In only his third big league season, the man simply known as “Jazz” will be rocking the streets of L.A. to show off his game, and his one-of-a-kind electric personality in this year’s Midsummer Classic.
Jazz Chisholm is having the best season of his young career, has been voted to his first All-Star Game, and will be the starting second baseman for the National League. In the 60 games he’s played, he is batting .254, with 14 home runs, 45 RBI, with a .325 on-base percentage and .535 slugging percentage. His .254/.325/.535 statline are all highs of his career, with his home runs and RBI both on pace to be career highs as well.
Originally from the Bahamas, Chisholm moved to the U.S. when he was 12 to complete his education, along with being a three-sport athlete. He then would sign as an international free agent back in 2015 with the Arizona Diamondbacks, where he would spend the first four years of his professional career.
On July 31st, 2019, the trading deadline of the MLB season of that year, Chisholm, who ended up working his way up to becoming one of the Dbacks top prospects, was dealt to the Marlins in exchange for Zac Gallen. He would then spend the rest of that season on Miami’s Double A affiliate. In the shortened 2020 season, he made his debut with the team in September and became the team’s full-time starting second baseman after the conclusion of spring training for the 2021 season.
In his first full big league season, he played in 124 games, and slashed a .248/.303/.425 statline, with 18 home runs, and 53 RBI. He did manage to steal 23 bases last season, but got caught eight times, which was the most in baseball. On the defensive end, from both second base and shortstop, he ended up committing 24 errors, which was tied for the most in the league.
To go along with his improvements, Chisholm has earned himself to become a fan-favorite in not just Miami, but throughout all of baseball. Besides the excitement he brings on the field, he brings that fiery energy on social media as well. There are several instances where he responds to his haters or is simply just trolling on platforms like Twitter. While many people may not like this one bit, Chisholm very much draws in a crowd of young kids/teenagers with his big social media personality, which is the exact crowd the MLB is trying to attract, making him a perfect fit for today’s MLB.
While most of it may just be all fun and games, there has been at least one instance where his activity got him in trouble, where he expressed his frustrations with the team on social media when they chose not to insert him into the starting lineup. This instance of immaturity is simply just a learning opportunity to grow and for him to become a better leader, what the team needs him to be.
The Marlins are certainly not competing for a title this year, as they are just trying to get the right pieces to the puzzle for their future. They are certainly headed in the right direction, especially with their young second baseman being that core piece.
Recent Comments