Two Yankees rank in the top 10 in the American League in OPS during June: Aaron Judge and Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Chisholm, after only seven extra-base hits in April and missing all of May due to a right oblique strain, is batting .318 with a .979 OPS in June. Acquired from the Marlins at last year’s trade deadline, he’s making a strong case to secure third base for the rest of the season.
“His game is so electric, and he can change the game and affect the game in so many different ways in a dynamic fashion,” manager Aaron Boone said. “When he’s playing at a high level, I think it does energize everyone.”
Chisholm’s resurgence aligns with a new approach since returning from the injured list. The 27-year-old aims to play at 70%, focusing on avoiding overswinging and maintaining consistent strides.
He executed this during the second inning of Sunday’s series finale against the Athletics. Chisholm Jr. used a compact swing to pull a fastball for his sixth home run of June.
“Just a solid fastball, try to get to it and just put a 70% swing,” Chisholm Jr. said. “[I] put some backspin on it and it got out.”
Chisholm Jr. has hit 11 home runs at Yankee Stadium but just two on the road. The 2022 NL All-Star is batting .310 in the Bronx and only .143 away. Considering historical trends, this disparity may balance out.
The Bahamas native also recorded his first triple of the season in a 12-5 victory over the Athletics, driving a changeup into the right-center gap to extend New York’s lead before scoring on a wild pitch.
The lefty ranks second on the Yankees with 10 steals, despite missing 30 games. He swiped 40 bases last year and is one of the few players on the older Yankees roster who consistently causes disruption on the basepaths.
Chisholm added strong plays defensively, including a 5-5-3 double play to end a scoring threat in the third inning and lunging into the screen to catch a foul ball in the eighth inning.
Statistically, he remains subpar at third base with -3 outs above average but appears more comfortable after primarily playing second base in his first five seasons.
“I do like throwing the ball hard sometimes,” Chisholm Jr. said. “Second base, you don’t really get to throw it as hard.”
While Chisholm could still play at second base, another problem area for New York this year, he seems to have claimed third base with his recent success. He’s hitting .321 at third base, compared to .181 at second.
No matter where Chisholm Jr. plays, his speed and power make him one of the Yankees’ most dynamic players. If he maintains his form throughout his first full season in pinstripes, it could be key to a deep postseason run for New York.
“He’s a gamechanger,” Judge said.
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