Get to know Jazz: New Yankee opens up in Q&A

7:10 PM UTC

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

Yankees infielder answered questions about a wide range of topics: from his love for the Bleacher Creatures to wanting to be one of the best players in baseball.

MLB.com: I noticed when you walked into the Yankee Stadium locker room, you had this glow on your face. Could you tell me how you feel about being a member of the Yankees?

Jazz Chisholm Jr.: It feels great to be on the side of a winning team, an organization that goes out there and wants to win every day and every year.

MLB.com: What has impressed you the most about Aaron Judge?

Chisholm: It’s the way Judge goes about his business. Every day, he comes in and he does his thing. He works. He works hard. He shows his dedication and passion for the game. He shows how much he loves it and how he wants to make everybody else better.

MLB.com: Do you think he is the best player in baseball?

Chisholm: Right now, yes. His discipline at the plate -- the way he swings at his pitch and only his pitch. He is just waiting to get his pitch.

MLB.com: The Bleacher Creatures have made it clear that they love you and you give them a Kobe Bryant jump shot. What do they mean to you?

Chisholm: I love them. They are out there every day shouting for us to win in the eighth inning even if we are down. I love that they are in the game -- all game. They could call my name all game, I [would] probably give them [the jump shot] all game.

MLB.com: You have made it clear that Kobe Bryant means a lot to you.

Chisholm: [By watching him], he gave me the mentality that I could be the best. That’s what I want to show -- that I’m the best in everything that I do. I’m going to work hard every day and follow the captain [Judge] that we have in this clubhouse. He is the best. I go and follow the best. That’s what Kobe did.

MLB.com: You mention Judge again. You said you are going to follow “the captain.” He must mean a lot to you. Is he your hero?

Chisholm: I wouldn’t say he is my hero, but I’m a big fan of Judge. I’m a big fan of what he is doing year in and year out. I want to know the secrets of that. Juan Soto as well -- what he has been doing year in and year out. If you want to be up to their level, you have to go and see for yourself and go do what they do to get there.

MLB.com: I noticed you had an off-day this past Monday. What did you do in New York and how much fun did you have?

Chisholm: I slept all day. I didn’t leave my house once.

MLB.com: Were you tired from the whirlwind of last week?

Chisholm: Nah, I just like to sleep.

MLB.com: What is the biggest thing you learned about this team?

Chisholm: The willingness to go out there and get a win no matter what and work together.

MLB.com: I noticed you play third base like a 10-year veteran and you never played the position prior to the trade. Why is it so easy for you to play the position?

Chisholm: I grew up playing on the left side of the infield. Growing up playing shortstop I feel like third base is a little bit more reaction and footwork. It is also better for me to use my feet to make plays and make stops at third base. I’m a shortstop playing third base, basically.

MLB.com: Excluding 2020, this is the first year you have stayed healthy. What did you do to stay on the field this year?

Chisholm: Right now, I’m eating healthy. I haven’t eaten fast food all year. I had a personal chef in Miami. [I had] treatment every day -- hot tub, cold tub. I had it at the house.

MLB.com: You have always been slender and strong. What made you stay away from fast food like McDonald’s?

Chisholm: I started losing a taste for it. I started eating better, tasting real food, really liking it a lot more.

MLB.com: What is your favorite food now?

Chisholm: I like some good pasta, seafood, even chicken. I love chicken. You can never go wrong with chicken.

MLB.com: Do you drink soda?

Chisholm: I’ve never drank soda.

MLB.com: Why?

Chisholm: This is funny. My mama told me I was allergic as a kid and it could create acne on my face if I were to drink it. Because all of my cousins would drink soda and they would have acne and all of that stuff.

MLB.com: What is your favorite drink?

Chisholm: Apple Juice from Martinelli's. I drink it every day.

MLB.com: You played for the Marlins for four-plus seasons. What are your best memories in Miami?

Chisholm: Just the amount of love the fans showed me even though they didn’t have that many fans there. But they always came out there wearing my jersey, showing me love and screaming my name day in and day out. They always had my back.

MLB.com: What is your goal as a Yankee?

Chisholm: My goal is to have the Yankees win their 28th World Series, 29th World Series and 30th World Series while I’m here. Also, to be one of the best on the team. We already have the Top 2 best in the league [in Judge and Soto] on our team. Why not make it Top 3?