Jazz Chisholm Jr. faced boos from the Yankees fans during Game 3 of the AL Division Series despite the team’s narrow 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, a confusing reaction the second baseman acknowledged after the sweep. Chisholm, who is moving toward free agency, made it clear he wants to remain with New York, saying, “This is where I want to be.”
The left-handed hitter was benched to start the deciding game by manager Aaron Boone and came in as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, where he fouled out. Chisholm said the boos during player introductions and after his at-bat “don’t hurt” but left him puzzled. “It’s just confusing because it’s the playoffs and we’re trying to win games,” he said. “So, you’re booing a guy that’s…trying to help the team win, and you’re hearing boos instead of trying to hype guys up?”
Chisholm noted that Yankees fans have previously booed star figures, including three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge, adding, “Who am I?” The reaction seems to have roots in his defensive struggles earlier in the series. In Game 2, a 5-2 loss at Tropicana Field, Chisholm’s shaky fielding drew criticism from the fanbase.
Manager Boone’s decision to start Anthony Volpe at second base in Game 3, instead of Chisholm, further fueled speculation and frustration. Chisholm discovered the lineup change by spotting the posted lineup card rather than from prior communication, a detail that underlined the uneasy atmosphere. Despite this, Chisholm expressed his affection for the Yankees, referencing his upbringing in the Bahamas watching Derek Jeter and other Yankees legends. “I had a great time being a Yankee,” he said. The 25-year-old All-Star and Silver Slugger winner from last season, who joined the 30-30 club for home runs and steals, finished the postseason 2-for-11 with no RBIs.
Heading into free agency, Chisholm reflected on his 2023 season as “decent” but not great. “I don’t feel like I had a great year,” he said plainly. The Yankees’ playoff exit leaves him and the team with a sense of frustration. “It’s very frustrating…we’re not happy. No one wants to go home,” Chisholm said after the series ended.
The future of Chisholm with the Yankees remains uncertain, complicated by the looming MLB lockout that could delay the start of the 2024 season. For now, he says he will “have to think about it for the next four months until the season starts up again.”
According to Yahoo Sports.
