Jazz Chisholm’s ‘wild ride’ led him to the big leagues. How long he stays is up to him
Jazz Chisholm waited all of one pitch after taking the field Tuesday to make his first impact at the MLB level. He entered in the eighth inning of the Miami Marlins’ 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays as a defensive replacement for shortstop Miguel Rojas, who left with a sore abdomen and is day-to-day.
As Chisholm set up defensively just over the second base bag as the infield worked a shift, Toronto’s Cavan Biggio turned on Richard Bleier’s 88 mph sinker and lined it straight at Chisholm.
Chisholm, the fourth-ranked prospect in the Marlins’ organization and viewed as one of the key pieces to the team’s future, snagged the ball that came his way at almost 100 mph, making the play look almost routine.
“Probably not the hardest line drive I’ve ever caught,” Chisholm said a day later, “but I’ll tell you that it did slow the game down a lot more.”
The first big moment of Chisholm’s big-league career is out of the way. Now, it’s a matter of following it up with consistency and forcing the team to keep him on the active roster, especially as the Marlins continue their attempt to make the playoffs as the regular season reaches its final month.
Chisholm is starting at shortstop and batting ninth in Wednesday’s series finale against the Blue Jays at Marlins Park.
“Who knows where this goes? But for now, Jazz is a guy that’s going to be part of our club,” Marlins manager Don Mattingly said Tuesday. “We just move forward until whenever. He may never ever leave here, right? You don’t know that. These young guys, they could go back and forth, but some guys come up one day and just say, ‘You know what? I’m never leaving.’ And they prove it.”
Chisholm, 22, now joins a long line of Marlins players to debut this season — 16 in total, 10 of whom are among the organization’s top-30 prospects.
But he also joined a more exclusive list in the process. Chisholm is just the sixth Bahamian to play in the Major Leagues. The only other infielder from that group: Andre Rodgers, the first Bahamian to reach the big leagues and who played at the sport’s highest level from 1957 to 1967.
“I’m always lost for words when I think of it,” Chisholm said of making his debut in Miami, 185 miles from where he was born in Nassau. “It couldn’t be a better time, getting called up to a playoff potential team. ... It’s just amazing. Being at home is just adding on.”
Chisholm, a power-hitting lefty who also can be a threat on the basepaths, took time before the game Tuesday to reflect on his journey. Signing as an international free agent in 2015. Working his way through the Arizona Diamondbacks system for three-and-a-half years before being traded to the Marlins last July. Serving as a role model in his home country, which is still feeling the effects of Hurricane Dorian a year later. Taking part in his first big-league spring training and being an early spark plug for Miami along with his fellow top prospects. A bout with COVID-19 before practices resumed in late June. Five weeks working out at the team’s alternate training site to stay ready with no minor-league season this year.
And, finally, the phone call.
“A wild ride,” Chisholm said.
Shortstop is Chisholm’s primary position, but he figures to get extended looks at second base once Rojas returns to the lineup, which the Marlins are optimistic will be sooner than later. Chisholm only played one career inning at second base in the minor leagues but took his share of reps at the position while working out in Jupiter.
“We put in enough work to get it done,” Chisholm said. “I feel comfortable.”
And he’s not doing it alone. Chisholm is taking advantage of the opportunity to learn from the veterans on the roster as well as continuing the wave of young players making their debuts this season.
“We believe in passing the baton on,” Chisholm said. “We’re going to keep on passing the baton to the other guys in the lineup, the other guy on the field. ... The kids are going to come and play our role and do whatever we can to win a championship.”
This and that
▪ The Marlins on Wednesday placed right-handed pitcher Elieser Hernandez on the 10-day injured list with a right lat strain and recalled infielder Eddy Alvarez from the alternate training site. Mattingly said Jose Urena will most likely make the next scheduled start.
▪ With Chisholm and outfielder Starling Marte debuting for Miami on Tuesday, the Marlins have tied their club record of 57 players making an appearance in just 31 games. They had already set a club record in using 34 pitchers.
This story was originally published September 2, 2020 at 5:16 PM.
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