Jazz Chisholm Jr. made his debut with the New York Yankees on Sunday night after being traded from the Miami Marlins. Chisholm arrived at Fenway Park about 90 minutes before the game and was placed fifth in the lineup to play center field. Despite wearing uniform No. 13, he struck out in his first at-bat.
Manager Aaron Boone expressed his excitement about Chisholm’s addition to the team and mentioned that he sees him fitting in the middle of the order. Chisholm, an All-Star second baseman in 2022, has been playing center field for the past two seasons. He had a batting average of .249 with 13 homers and 50 RBIs this year for Miami, and has a career average of .246 with 66 homers and 205 RBIs over five seasons.
Boone also mentioned that Chisholm could potentially bat leadoff and that he may try him out in the infield, possibly at third base, a position he has not played in the majors. Gleyber Torres currently holds the second base position for the Yankees, but his free agency status after the World Series leaves some uncertainty for the future.
In order to make room for Chisholm on the roster, infielder J.D. Davis was designated for assignment. Davis struggled at the plate, going 2 for 19 with one RBI and nine strikeouts in seven games after being acquired from Oakland.
Additionally, Boone shared that Giancarlo Stanton is expected to return from the injured list on Monday in Philadelphia. Stanton has been sidelined since straining his left hamstring while running the bases on June 22.
The Yankees are looking forward to having Chisholm’s versatility and skills contribute to the team’s success. With his speed on the bases and ability to play multiple positions, Chisholm adds depth to the lineup and gives the team more options moving forward. Fans can expect to see how Chisholm’s presence impacts the team’s performance as the season progresses.