Chisholm jazzed to join Yankees' postseason push

This story was excerpted from Bryan Hoch’s Yankees Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. will never forget his first day as a Yankee. The infielder/outfielder described it as a “really, really hectic” experience -- one that included delayed flights, vehicular gridlock and happy handshakes on the diamond at Fenway Park.

Acquired from the Marlins on Saturday in exchange for three Minor Leaguers, Chisholm bid farewell to his former teammates in the visitors' clubhouse at Milwaukee’s American Family Field, then packed his belongings and hustled to meet his new club in Boston.

“My reaction when I found out I was being traded here? It was great,” Chisholm said. “I mean, I found out that I was going to go to a contending team -- a team that was in first place, fighting for a playoff spot. I’m excited to play in October for the Yankees.”

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Indeed, the 26-year-old Chisholm is already fantasizing about those autumnal Bronx lights. He noted that “every kid dreams of being a Yankee,” and in his case, his favorite player growing up was Derek Jeter. That’s not an uncommon choice, though few youngsters later enjoy the opportunity to play for a Jeter-led team, as Chisholm did in Miami.

“I had him as an owner, so I feel like it was only right to come along and put on this uniform,” Chisholm said.

Before he could button that road gray jersey across his chest, Chisholm needed to make a choice. Chisholm wore No. 2 in Miami, which the Yankees have retired for Jeter. Informed that there were no single digits available, Chisholm said his choices were between No. 13 and No. 18. He chose No. 13, famously worn by Alex Rodriguez.

“I grew up watching Jeter, A-Rod, [Robinson] Canó, [Mark] Teixeira, [Nick] Swisher, all those guys together,” Chisholm said. “It was only right to find the number that I really adored as a kid, watching A-Rod.”

If it seemed like fans in New York were (pardon the pun) jazzed by the trade, that reaction is nothing compared to what happened in the Bahamas, where Chisholm was born. He said that even Philip Davis, the prime minister of the Bahamas, has reached out to express his excitement.

“I think everybody in the Bahamas is a Yankees fan, no matter what, just by default,” Chisholm said. “Everybody has been messaging me about playing for the Yankees. They want to come out and watch the games and come to New York. I still see my phone ringing over there right now.”

Though most of Chisholm’s career experience has been hitting in the leadoff spot (192 starts in 403 games with Miami), Yankees manager Aaron Boone said he envisions slotting Chisholm frequently in the middle of the order.

Chisholm batted fifth and played center field in the Yanks’ 8-2 win over the Red Sox on Sunday, though Boone said he wants to put Chisholm through a crash course at third base with infield coach Travis Chapman, potentially as soon as Monday at Philadelphia. A onetime shortstop, Chisholm said he is up for the challenge.

“I went out and there and played center field for the first time last year,” Chisholm said. “It was pretty difficult at first, but I feel like I can go and play anywhere and help my team win. Especially a winning team, if they’re asking me to go somewhere and help them win, I’m definitely going to do it.”

First, he had to get to the Yankees' clubhouse. Chisholm said that his flight circled the Boston area for an extra hour, prompting him to repeatedly check the time, knowing that the scheduled 7:10 p.m. first pitch was fast approaching.

With his black, teal and orange Marlins equipment bag in the trunk, Chisholm stared out the passenger window as his vehicle crawled through about a half-hour of traffic. It finally pulled up outside Fenway Park about 90 minutes before Tanner Houck threw the night’s first pitch.

“I was just hoping I would still be able to start the game,” Chisholm said. “[Boone] texted me yesterday and asked me if starting would be too much for me coming off the plane. I was just like, ‘No, I’m ready to go. I’m ready to come help us win; go out there and play my butt off.’”