Yankees' Jazz Chisholm Jr. says ‘everybody knows I'm a second baseman.' Why is he playing third base?

New York Times

14 hours ago

TORONTO — The New York Yankees did not plan on Jazz Chisholm Jr. being their everyday third baseman. That is fully evidenced by what Chisholm did in his offseason preparation for the 2025 season.
After the Yankees' 12-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Tuesday, Chisholm told The Athletic that he 'only worked at second base' in his offseason drills. Chisholm said the Yankees explicitly told him he would be their second baseman, which is where he began the season before switching to third base. The switch coincided with DJ LeMahieu's return from a calf injury.
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Of the 36 third basemen who've played at least 190 innings this season, Chisholm's minus-two outs above average ranks 25th. But of the 28 second basemen with at least 250 innings at the position, Chisholm's three outs above average ranks sixth. It makes one wonder: Why are the Yankees playing Chisholm out of position when the numbers clearly show a major difference in production?
'Everybody knows I'm a second baseman,' Chisholm said. 'Of course, I want to play second base, but whatever it takes to help the team win. If that's what the team chooses, that's what I gotta do. I don't write the lineups. You feel me?
'I'm playing every day, so it's hard to be upset. Yes, I know I'm a second baseman. Yes, I know I'm better at second base, but at the end of the day, I still have to play third. I just have to deal with it.'
There was a play in the fourth inning that encapsulated Chisholm's lack of experience at third base. Blue Jays left fielder Davis Schneider hit a slow chopper to Chisholm, who charged the ball and had to fire to first base in one motion. His throw was up the first-base line and allowed Schneider to reach on an infield single. More seasoned third basemen likely make the play and end the inning. Instead, it sparked a two-out rally for the Blue Jays. Yankees starter Max Fried walked Myles Straw, and Andrés Giménez followed with a 3-run home run.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone said the infield single was more a matter of Chisholm's lack of playing time on a turf surface, rather than a lack of experience playing third base.
'I think he went at it, and I think it's a little bit of just not always playing on turf,' Boone said. 'It's kind of an in-between. It kind of messed with his rhythm of the throw, so the throw was inaccurate. It's probably because the hop kind of took him up a little bit, so it wasn't as smooth. I chalk that up to more just not getting the right hop and probably a little bit of the turf thing.'
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Chisholm said he 'feels decent' in terms of his comfort level at third but admitted that there are some opposing hitters where he's not as comfortable as others, meaning those who have extremely powerful exit velocities. Chisholm played third base last season after he was traded to New York by the Miami Marlins. Gleyber Torres did not want to move from second to third, which was the Yankees' plan, but Chisholm willingly took on the challenge at a position he had never played on any level in his baseball career, including Little League. He said he still doesn't fully know the intricacies of the position.
'I don't think so, because it's in the season,' Chisholm said. 'If I get some time to work on it in the offseason, I feel like I could be a little bit better.'
The Yankees knew they had a hole in the infield last offseason. They could not count on LeMahieu to produce. He's trended downward since 2020 and entered Tuesday's game with an 82 wRC+. Defensively at second base, LeMahieu has minus-one outs above average. It is glaring how limited his range is in the middle infield. There are numerous balls that would likely be gobbled up by a more athletic player that end up in right field. Here's a look at how the infield is performing against ground balls and bunts with Chisholm at second versus third base.
It is mind-boggling that the Yankees continue to have Chisholm out of position at third base while LeMahieu is limited at second. One of the main areas the Yankees wanted to improve last offseason was team defense. With LeMahieu at second and Chisholm at third, the Yankees are willingly choosing to have two negatives on the field when a simple fix could be to move Chisholm back to his natural position, where he's been a positive.
Boone did not rule out that possibility when asked after the game if it was a consideration.
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'We'll talk through that stuff,' Boone said.
The Yankees' manager is quick to shoot down any impossibilities with his club, so the fact that he left it open means it could happen soon. He also would not say yes or no when asked if he thinks the current set-up is best for his team.
'Um, I think both guys are really talented defenders wherever they line up,' Boone said. 'But, we'll continue to look at things like that.'
The Yankees owe LeMahieu the rest of his $15 million salary this season and an additional $15 million next year. So far in 2025, he has been a below-average hitter, defender and baserunner. The Yankees should not be catering to what makes the 36-year-old most comfortable on the field. The Yankees' lead in the division is shrinking by the day, and the club is continuing to start a player who's been a negative in all facets of the game.
The only question is why?