New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has never shied away from being authentic, even if his natural personality rubs others the wrong way.
Chisholm wears vibrant cleats and chains, and he loudly celebrates home runs in a sport that spent decades discouraging anything outside of a brisk jog around the bases.
Chisholm wants to live his best life, even if others around the sport have previously attempted to impede his dream.
In a wide-ranging and emotional interview with The Athletic, Chisholm-who is from the Bahamas and identifies as Black-discussed his thoughts on race in baseball. Chisholm reflected on his former Miami Marlins teammates, including veteran infielder Miguel Rojas, hazing him and destroying his custom shoes.
Specifically, Chisholm said he believes racial bias drove the harassment.
“Nobody would ever cut up my cleats or throw my things away if I were White,” Chisholm said.
Jazz Chisholm’s GTA Vice City cleats are pic.twitter.com/HWlbz0hGOL
Jazz Chisholm's GTA Vice City cleats are 🔥 pic.twitter.com/HWlbz0hGOL
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) April 22, 2021
Chisholm: “The unwritten rules of baseball are White. And I always broke the unwritten rules of baseball.”
Yankees fans on X (formerly Twitter) made it clear they stand with Chisholm and adore the 2022 NL All-Star. Chisholm hit .273 with 11 home runs, 23 RBI, 18 stolen bases, and a .825 OPS in 46 games with the Yankees, who acquired him ahead of last summer’s trade deadline.
“I love what Jazz brings to the game of baseball and what he does for the Yankees!” one fan wrote. “Great energy guy that brings it when he takes the field and has fun while doing it, nothing wrong with that!”
Added another: “Being yourself allows you to have fun and contribute in intangible ways. There needs to be [more] players like [Chisholm]. Cheering for him so hard.”
Chisholm, who spent his first Yankees season at third base, added two postseason home runs for the AL champions. He’d never played third in the majors but moved to accommodate former All-Star Gleyber Torres.
Torres joined the Detroit Tigers this offseason, paving the way for Chisholm’s return to second.
“[The] yankees need your kind of infectious [enthusiasm] for life and the game of baseball,” an X user wrote.
“I love him so much so much,” another fan chimed in.
