Jazz shines in 1st start at 3rd base -- and hits 2 HRs (with Judge's help)

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.

If the 26-year-old Chisholm had any concerns about his new challenge, it sure didn’t show. Chisholm started a sharp double play on the first ball hit to him, handled all of his chances cleanly and belted two homers in the Yankees’ 14-4 rout of the Phillies.

“I just felt like, if I go out there and I get ready on time, it doesn’t matter how hard the ball is hit -- I’ll be ready,” Chisholm said. “I just felt like it was really comfortable being over there. My pre-pitch was pretty good today every pitch. I felt really comfortable today.”

Third base is 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 had produced a .611 OPS this season. It was the fourth-worst mark in the Majors, ahead of only the White Sox, Pirates and Angels.

Chisholm certainly did his part to help turn that around. After crushing his first homer as a Yankee off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler in the second inning, Chisholm added a second in the ninth for his fourth career multi-homer game -- and his first since June 10, 2022, with the Marlins.

It was also his first -- and likely last -- home run hit with Aaron Judge's bat. With the Phillies using catcher Garrett Stubbs on the mound for the final inning in Monday's lopsided contest, Chisholm asked Judge if he could try out his bat against the soft-tossing position player.

“I’m definitely not going to use that again," Chisholm said after connecting for a two-run homer. "That bat was so heavy.”

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.”