Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was acquired by the Yankees in a trade with the Marlins on Saturday, has a special bond with Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.
Jeter, also known as The Captain, brought Chisholm to Miami while he was part-owner and CEO of the Marlins.
“I talked to Jeter and he said, ‘You know I made a trade for you,’” Chisholm said on The Pivot podcast earlier this year. “That trade wouldn’t have happened if I wasn’t the one to say yes.”
Chisholm, who coincidentally wore No. 2 for the Marlins, then shared that he called Jeter in tears after learning of the death of his all-time idol, Kobe Bryant.
Chisholm, who can play outfield as well as third base, shortstop and second base, was at the Mamba Academy in Los Angeles just two days before Bryant’s helicopter crash.
He was supposed to meet Bryant the next day.
But before he could meet Bryant that Sunday, news of the tragic accident spread.
“I thought, ‘OK, my dream is about to come true, I’m about to meet my idol. And the helicopter comes,” Chisholm said. “I called Derek Jeter, on the phone, crying.
“I was like, man, I was supposed to meet Kobe and he just died.”
After that, Chisholm, who Jeter said was his shortstop, had a request to make of his boss.
“I called him after my idol died and said, ‘You have to be my idol,'” Chisholm said.
Chisholm shared that from that day on, Jeter treated him “like his son.”
