Jazz Chisholm Jr. began a rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset this evening. It’s the switch-hitting infielder’s first game action since he sustained a right oblique strain last month. Chisholm started the game at third base. He played five innings and took four plate appearances before being lifted for a planned mid-game substitution.
The positional assignment is the most interesting aspect. Manager Aaron Boone told the Yankees beat on Wednesday night that the team was considering using Chisholm as a third baseman once he returns from the injured list (relayed by Greg Joyce of The New York Post). After today’s rehab game, Chisholm indicated that’s indeed likely to be the plan (video provided by SNY).
“That’s what I’ve heard so far,” he replied when asked if he expects to be a full-time third baseman. “(Boone) gave me the choice, but he told me that he really wanted me at third base. I’m a team guy. I’m here to win a ring. I’m not here to fight over positions and all that.”
Chisholm has played exclusively second base this year. He started 29 games at the keystone through the end of April. DJ LeMahieu was on the IL for that entire time. Oswaldo Cabrera was playing regularly at the hot corner. Of course, the picture has changed in the past few weeks. LeMahieu is back and has moved to second base. Cabrera suffered a gruesome ankle fracture that’ll almost certainly end his season. Oswald Peraza and Jorbit Vivas (to a lesser extent) have covered third base since Cabrera’s injury.
Neither Peraza nor Vivas has provided anything offensively. Chisholm was only hitting .181 before his injury, but he’d connected on seven home runs while drawing walks at a strong 12% clip. He should be a significant upgrade relative to the Peraza/Vivas pairing overall. LeMahieu is out to a .184/.244/.263 start through his first 12 games. It’s an inauspicious follow-up to last year’s .204/.269/.259 showing, but the Yankees seem likely to give him a little more leash over the next few weeks. They apparently prefer for LeMahieu to remain on the right side of the infield as he tries to get his bat on track.
This is the second time that Chisholm has kicked from second to third base during his Yankees tenure. He made the move after last summer’s deadline trade. That was in deference to Gleyber Torres (and came after New York’s incumbent second baseman indicated he wasn’t interested in a position change. Chisholm committed seven errors in 400 1/3 innings during his first MLB action at the hot corner). He graded a couple runs below average by Defensive Runs Saved but Statcast credited him with four runs above par.
The move could also have implications for New York’s deadline approach. Infield help would be a logical area for the front office to target this summer — especially if LeMahieu doesn’t pick things up. Chisholm could presumably move back to second if they acquire a third baseman, but they could also look for a direct upgrade at second base. The position has been down overall, but Brandon Lowe, Luis Urías and old friend Thairo Estrada (who is currently rehabbing a wrist fracture) are among potential deadline trade candidates.
Not a switch-hitter right?
Bats left throws right
Isn’t that right arm weak hence why he was natural 2b as he could’nt hack it at other positions
Au contraire. He has a rocket arm.
DS – 16th percentile arm strength. Thumbs down.
Strong arm! The guy played center field.
And, this really will improve my fantasy team lineup
80 arm strength, 40 accuracy.
Arm is fine. He did say he is a team player and will play any position. Unlike a certain player in Boston.
Privy – wasnt trolling at all.
I watched him play those games at 3B last year. He made all the plays
He is not.
The switch hitter part gaslights me so hard
Should really depend on how / whether Rice can play third. When Stanton comes back he’s going to clog the DH spot. DJLM should be let loose, he’s completely done. Chisholm should be on the bench. Peraza has pretty much blown his chance to hold the position and I doubt he factors into the team’s long term plans.
Rice will get sent down once Stanton returns. I don’t see Chisholm being used as a bench player. He will be starting at 3B when he returns.
Rice isn’t going anywhere. Worst case he platoons with Stanton. His OPS is .851 and he crushes righties.
He probably will end up platooning with Stanton which IMO is a bit of a bummer. But being real, Stanton will probably be out again in a matter of weeks
Goldy has played a lot of 1B. Rice will ger some reps there. Stanton can come off the bench to pinch hit for whomever is playing is 2B.
Rice has a 138 OPS+
Sending him down would be wildly unwise for the Yankees to do.
What is Rice to third base garbage I’ve been seeing He’s never played third base as a professional.
As good as Goldy has been he’s still below average vs. rhp. Stanton will get plenty of rest days. There will be lots of ab’s for Rice.
He’s not a switch hitter lmfao!!!
Is it just me, or does Jazz’s face have an orange stripe coming down the middle of his forehead and nose?
Click on his name to his baseball reference page.
LOL. You’re right. It’s faint, but it does look like a flaw in the photo.
Not a Yankee fan at all, but I’ve always liked Jazz Chisholm Jr. and how he plays the game. He’ll grab a glove and play whatever position he’s asked to help his team.
“I’m a team guy. I’m here to win a ring. I’m not here to fight over positions and all that.”
What a quote! Talk about endearing yourself to your fans and teammates.
Very topical. Nicely done.
@YankeeC – Didn’t that guy in Boston say roughly the same thing just a few weeks ago?
Jazz is awesome. Brings a bit of personality to a clubhouse that is pretty dry with the media. They like him.
Jazz has swag and he’s a team player!
Ditto, can’t wait for Jazz to get back and rake
Note to Rafael Devers: This is what a team player does! They play whatever position the team needs them to play. They put their ego aside to help the team win. These players are leaders. You are just an overpaid, egotistical crybaby.
The Tigers will also be looking for a thirdbaseman if their utility fill-ins for Matt Vierling don’t work out. Much easier to trade for secondbaseman.
I do not understand what the point is of doing this now. Jazz is a natural second baseman, and it’s not like DJ is providing anything offensively at all pretty much what we expected. He’s actually it’s not any better than what we have at third right now. He should be DFA but they won’t because they owe him money. thankfully, the rest of the team is hitting and especially pitchingenough to pick up the slack, but that’s not gonna go on forever, and eventually they’ll need some production out of second and what DJ is doing as far as average, is slowly dropping further below the Mendoza line. before they make any decisions, they should find out what’s more plentiful at the trade deadline if anything, a second base or a third base and then put jazz wherever makes sense. That is probably what they are going to do. At least I hope so. That’s the most rational approach, but the Yankees and rational approaches are oxymorons as we have found. good to see the Jazz is willing to do whatever makes a team better. Unlike his predecessor Torres, who stated unequivocally that he would not play third base, which is probably why he is not here any longer among other reasons.
The trade deadline is two months away. Is it worth benching LeMahieu and still getting very little offensively from one of their infield positions for those two months just so Chisholm can play his natural position during that time?
What is available in the trade market at 3B? Virtually nothing. Even Arenado is no longer on the market. The rational approach is to see what’s available, and then see what fits the teams needs. Demanding they trade for someone who simply does not exist is not rational.
@stymeedone, how about Eugenio Suárez? venomstrikes.com/3-most-likely-diamondbacks-to-get…
it will end up being an ikf reunion
The Rays aren’t trading Brandon Lowe. Not happening. And even if they were, it would not be to the Yankees.
Gaslighting Jazz Chisolm into Switch Hitting is something I can totally get behind
Isn’t Gleyber Torres a clearly subpar defender at 2B? Did the Yankees really want him to play 3B last year? That must have been a disaster!
Gruß,
BSHH
Kind of crazy to me Hal knows nothing about diminished assets given his elite education and him being a self proclaimed “numbers” guy
Hal is three fifths of an asset.
Hal is his mother’s son. He should drop the Steinbrenner name.
this make zero sense. zero. he plays elite defense at second and is blocking no one. if they’re doing this to get dj at-bats they’re deluded
Jazz did a fine job at 3B, but DJ isn’t the answer at 2B. Also, you need more range at 2B so it’s ridiculous to placate DJ who runs with snow shoes.
I’m waiting for a very Cashman-esque trade…..
Yankees acquire IKF and Andrew Heaney from the Pirates for 3 middling prospects and Oswald Peraza.
He loves doing business with PITT. Those two players are on expiring deals, the Pirates are going nowhere and they won’t fetch a big return, but they will be marginal upgrades.
I think you’re underestimating Heaney’s value. He’s a low-cost, healthy, and effective lefty. Plenty of contenders can use him.
Wasn’t saying there wouldn’t be a lot of interest. Cash has the relationship there though and they always seem to find a common ground.