Jazz plays hot corner for first time, also hot at plate with 2 HRs

PHILADELPHIA -- Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s crash course at the hot corner got underway on Monday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park, with the veteran fielding dozens of ground balls ahead of his first professional appearance at third base.

One day after Chisholm made his Yankees debut in an 8-2 victory over the Red Sox at Fenway Park, manager Aaron Boone said he was banking on the 26-year-old’s athleticism to carry him through at third base, batting behind the just-activated Giancarlo Stanton in the lineup.

Not only did Chisholm play flawless third base in the Yankees' 14-4 whipping of the Phillies, he also smacked two home runs, including one off ace Zack Wheeler in the second inning.

Third base was a new assignment for Chisholm, who had made 191 appearances in center field, 167 at second base and 46 at shortstop since his Major League debut in 2020. Boone indicated that he’s not expecting Chisholm to be perfect.

“He’s a special athlete,” Boone said. “He’s a guy who came up as a shortstop, so I feel like he has all the skills and ability to be able to handle it. There may be some growing pains that we’ve got to go through here, and we’ve got to live with that and work alongside him.”

Entering Monday’s game, Yankees third basemen have produced a .611 OPS this season, the Majors’ fourth-worst mark behind the White Sox, Pirates and Angels.

Acquired from the Marlins on Saturday in exchange for three prospects, Chisholm played his first game as a Yankee in center field, with Boone reasoning that Chisholm arrived late to Fenway and the skipper did not want to add a new position for him to an already hectic day.

One day was apparently enough to get moving, and Chisholm said on Sunday that he was up for the challenge.

“I feel like I’m a really good infielder, so I just feel like I’ve got to go over there and catch the ball,” Chisholm said.

Boone said that he wants to “keep it simple” for Chisholm, noting that infield coach Travis Chapman will “give him nuggets” as games continue.

“We’ll keep it fluid, too,” Boone said. “It’s not a set-in-stone kind of thing. We want to get a look at what’s the best combination for us out there. I’ve liked his eagerness here in these early days, early hours.”

Boone also spoke to second baseman Gleyber Torres about seeing reps at third base. Torres expressed hesitancy about a position switch, saying that he did not enjoy playing third base in the Minors (23 games).

“I didn’t like it,” Torres said. “It was an opportunity to play in the big leagues [quicker] at that moment. You just do everything possible to help the team in that moment. I played all the positions in the Minor Leagues, so you just try to be ready.”

Chisholm’s arrival figures to cut into DJ LeMahieu’s playing time, though Boone said that the veteran will remain in the infield mix and is penciled in for a start on Wednesday, when the Phillies will start left-hander Cristopher Sánchez.

“He’ll have opportunities to get back in there,” Boone said. “This guy is a great hitter. He’s working through some things. You don’t want to close the door on being able to unlock those things.”