Former rival might have made Phillies regret avoiding him at trade deadline
The New York Yankees came to town earlier this week, and while the usual suspects contributed to the big bad Bronx Bombers’ potent offense, prolonging the Philadelphia Phillies’ skid, one player stood out from the rest. No, it wasn’t Aaron Judge or Juan Soto. It was the newest Yankee, Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Traded from the Miami Marlins to the Yankees on July 27, Chisholm didn’t have to wait long to return to action against a familiar NL East foe. Two days after the trade, his new team arrived at Citizens Bank Park, and the former Marlin stole the show and terrorized the Phillies.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. might have made Phillies regret avoiding him at the trade deadline
According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Phillies had “zero interest” in acquiring Chisholm to help their dire outfield situation. After his recent performance against them, maybe the Phillies brass were second-guessing themselves.
It’s doubtful that he heard that trade deadline news or would have cared if he had. But there was clearly something that lit a spark in the 26-year-old former All-Star. It’s likely that just escaping the woeful Marlins was enough to help him take his game up a notch.
Whatever the reason, the Phillies bore the brunt of his newfound enthusiasm. Chisholm went 6-for-14 in the three-game series. He hit four home runs with back-to-back double-dinger games, drove in eight and scored five times. He became the first Yankees player to hit four home runs in his first three games with the storied franchise, per MLB’s Bryan Hoch.
As if that wasn’t enough, he did all that while playing a new position. The former second baseman-turned-center fielder played the first games of his career at third base.
It’s not like he has excelled at Citizens Bank Park in the past, either. It’s obviously a more familiar environment than the ballparks he’ll see playing in the AL East now, but he’s never played like that before against the Phillies. In 20 career games visiting Philadelphia with the Marlins, Chisholm was a .205 hitter with a .612 OPS, just two home runs, a 36 percent strikeout rate and a 69 wRC+.
While the Phillies are no doubt happy with their trade for Austin Hays from the Orioles, Chisholm’s recent performance, which propelled the Yankees to a series sweep, reminded them and the rest of baseball how electric a player he really is.