Jazz Chisholm is enjoying playing for the New York Yankees. On Monday, the Yankees’ newest addition, who started at third base and batted sixth in the lineup, hit two home runs in a 14-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park.
Chisholm hit his first homer as a Yankee in the second inning, diving opposite Zack Wheeler to give New York a 2-0 lead. He came up next in the ninth against Garrett Stubbs, Philadelphia’s backup catcher who was giving the bullpen a break while playing with an eight-run deficit.
Stubbs tried to confuse Chisholm with a 65 mph pitch. The five-year veteran wasn’t fooled and slammed the slow, high pitch into the right-field seats. Outfielder Nick Castellanos didn’t even move as he watched the ball sail over him.
Chisholm used a special bat for the home run
After the home run, Chisholm revealed to television cameras that he used the bat of captain and three-time home run champion Aaron Judge.
He had a big smile on his face as he talked about the home run with reporters in his locker room after the game. He also revealed that he received Judge’s blessing in advance.
“I definitely won’t be using it again tomorrow,” Chisholm said. “That bat was so heavy. I thought, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a hit against a position player until tonight.'”
“I said, ‘You know what, Cap? I’m either going right-handed or I’m going to use your bat.’ He said, ‘Go ahead and use my bat.’ And it worked.”
Chisholm, 26, was acquired Saturday from the Miami Marlins in exchange for three minor league prospects. The expectation is that he will eventually play center field, allowing the Yankees to move Judge to a less demanding corner outfield position.
Judge also hit two homers for the Yankees on Monday, but that kind of start is what’s expected from the MLB leader in the category, who now has 39 homers on the season, seven more than Shohei Ohtani.
For now, however, Chisholm will play third base after Gleyber Torres refused to play. when moving there from second base. The Yankees are looking for better production and defense at the position than Oswaldo Cabrera (.246 average, .646 OPS) has been providing. Before Monday, Chisholm had never played third base in his major league career.
With a 2-for-4 night, Chisholm raised his average to .251 with a .745 OPS, 13 homers, 50 RBIs and 23 stolen bases this year. In a Yankees uniform, he is hitting .333 with a 1.400 OPS.
