PHILADELPHIA — Juan Soto and Aaron Judge were already on base when the Yankees’ new slugger showed off his power in the seventh inning Tuesday.
With his team down 4-2, Jazz Chisholm Jr. homered off Matt Strahm 110 yards down the right-field line. The home run, Chisholm’s second of the night after hitting a 126-yard solo shot in the sixth inning, helped the Yankees to a 7-6 victory in 12 innings over the Phillies.
The leadoff jack inspired a long look and a nonchalant bat from Chisholm before he rounded the bases. As he did so, he continued to celebrate before taking a step forward toward home plate.
“I didn’t know what to do,” Chisholm said. “I blacked out. I was just super excited.”
ARE YOU NOT AMUSED?!?! pic.twitter.com/MrGqd149Non
— Talkin’ Yankees (@TalkinYanks) July 31, 2024
The hit made franchise history, as Chisholm also hit two home runs in Monday’s series opener. Add up all those long hits and Chisholm is the first Yankee to have four or more home runs in his first three games with the team, according to Stathead’s Katie Sharp.
He couldn’t believe it.
“It’s crazy,” Chisholm said of the statistic. “To be a part of New York Yankees history is one of the craziest things anyone can hear in baseball. So I’m pretty excited.”
Chisholm, acquired from the Marlins on Saturday, had never hit multiple homers in consecutive games before joining the Yankees, nor had he hit three homers in two games.
At 6’1″ and 185 pounds, he doesn’t look like much of a puncher. Yet Aaron Boone wasn’t surprised by his power.
“I think it’s surprising when you see his size and everything,” the manager said. “But I’ve seen some of the balls he’s hit over the years and you’re like, ‘Whoa, that’s where the big guys go.'”
Chisholm, 26, also drove in the Yankees’ first run with a ground ball in the first inning. He finished Tuesday’s game 2-for-5 with five RBIs while continuing to look healthy at the hot corner in his second career game at the position.
“He’s a guy playing a new position for the first time in his career,” said Judge, who let Chisholm use his bat for Monday’s second home run.He’s had some big games for us and he looks like he’s been there his whole life. He brings great energy and runs the bases well. I like having him in the middle of the lineup. He does damage and gets on the bases.
Chisholm now has 17 home runs this season. With a career-high 20, the left-hander should easily surpass that number now that he’ll regularly be firing the ball toward the right-field porch at Yankee Stadium.
Beyond the stadium, Chisholm believes the Yankees will continue to bring out the best in him.
He made the playoffs twice with the Marlins, but they lost more than they won while he was there. Chisholm alluded to that, noting how excited he was for the playoffs in every scrimmage he played as a Yankee.
Playing baseball in a meaningful way is clearly a source of motivation for him.
“That’s what I live for,” Chisholm said. “I like the lights, I like the big crowds. I like anything that goes on like that.”
Chisolm’s Yankees career is still in its early stages, but it’s hard to make a better first impression than the one he’s made. In addition to providing plenty of power and learning to position himself on the fly, he’s brought speed and seems to be fitting in well in his new locker room.
There were concerns about that after Chisholm angered some teammates in Miami, but the Yankees’ Jazz era is off to a better start than anyone could have hoped.
“I can tell you he’s having fun playing,” Boone said. “I can tell you he’s enjoying playing in this environment, on this stage, in the arena, in the action. We’ve been in this situation for a couple days, but he’s welcomed us and I think everybody in this room has welcomed him back.”
Chisholm agreed, saying he was having the time of his life.
“I’m having the time of my life right now,” he said with a smile. “I feel like a kid again.”
Originally published:
