Baseball Mixed with Hint Of Jazz
Baseball Mixed with Hint Of Jazz
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Via Pitcher List. Jazz Chisholm Jr. Oct 5, 2022 Pitcher List |
Introduction
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Via Fox Sports Jazz Chisholm Jr. 2022 Fox Sports |
Over the past few decades, baseball in South Florida has been
searching desperately for its own unique identity. Fans have seen periods of
both success and failure. The majority are getting tired of waiting for a
dynasty to be sustained. The Florida/Miami Marlins have seen their share of
superstar-quality players, but team officials have never been able to keep them
on-board long-term. However, that may finally be changing.
After having lost such elite talent as Gary Sheffield; Ivan
“Pudge” Rodriguez; Miguel Cabrera; and Giancarlo Stanton, the team was recently
able to acquire arguably the best infield prospect of this generation. After
yet another fire sale that saw outfielder Marcell Ozuna shipped to the St.
Louis Cardinals, the Marlins got back a young pitcher named Zac Gallen. It
seemed like another drought, until Gallen was quickly flipped to the Arizona
Diamondbacks for a then-unknown middle infielder named Jazz Chisholm Jr.
A native of the Bahamas, and just the eighth Bahamian to ever
play Major League Baseball, Jasrado Prince Hermis Arrington Chisholm Jr. was
essentially making a homecoming in Florida. He seemed to have all the tools and
skill set necessary to become a true superstar for a long time.
Early
Years of Jazz
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By Jeff Francis/Legends On Deck/August 24, 2018 |
As young as two years old, it was his grandmother, Patricia
Coakley, who first introduced young Jazz to the game of baseball. Herself an
active participant, Coakley was the primary shortstop for the Bahamian national
softball team. From there, Jazz Jr. crossed international borders into the
United States when he was only 12 years old. He ended up settling in Wichita,
Kansas, where he attended high school at Life Prep Academy.
Jazz
Turns Pro
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| By Jack Sommers/AZ Snake Pit/SBNation/Jan 31, 2019 6:00 EST |
After finishing his amateur career, Jazz Chisholm Jr. returned
home to his native Bahamas, and signed his first professional contract as an
international free agent with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the summer of 2015.
He even spent the 2017 World Baseball Classic, representing Great Britain. Jazz
ended up being the fifth-best prospect in the Diamondbacks organization, and he
was hungry to build on that.
Just two years later came Jazz’s big break. He was traded to the
Miami Marlins straight-up for young starting pitching prospect Zac Gallen.
That’s when his career really took flight. Shortly after returning back East,
he dominated the winter league’s Roberto Clemente League in Puerto Rico.
Making
a Household Name For Himself
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| By Ryan Casey Aguinaldo/5 May 2022, 19:33:31 |
Jazz Chisholm – BR Bullpen (baseball-reference.com)
As we all know, the year 2020 was not at all an easy one to
endure. The coronavirus pandemic temporarily put virtually all aspects of a
normal daily life on hold. Major League Baseball was no exception, with its
beginning delayed until mid to late July. There was even a brief period akin to
a second Spring Training, due to the long layoff.
Barely a year after the Marlins acquired him, those closest to
the team were starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The past few
seasons were not as pleasant, due to a lengthy rebuild. However, 2020 seemed to
be the dawn of a new era.
On September 1 of that year, an unheralded phenom finally got
the call all young baseball players covet. Infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. was all
set to make his MLB debut versus the Toronto Blue Jays. Jazz only appeared
defensively, but he would get his first at-bat the very next day.
Wearing No. 70 on his uniform, he followed former outfielder
Antoan Richardson as just the seventh MLB player to hail from the Bahamas.
Unfortunately, Jazz didn’t record his first hit until September 6 versus the
Tampa Bay Rays. On the bright side, he was the fourth-best Marlins prospect
when he first came up.
Legacy
Cemented
Marlins calling on Chisholm for MLB debut (milb.com)
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| By Christina De Nicola/MLB.com/April 1st, 2021 |
Having spent most of his early years at shortstop, he was shifted
to second base upon his establishment as a Major League regular. Heading into
Spring Training in 2021, Jazz Chisholm Jr. decided to change the number on his
back. His choice clearly was influenced by the man signing his paycheck at the
time, as he wore Derek Jeter’s one-time Yankee No. 2.
The small jersey modification really catapulted the young star’s
career, as he hit his first MLB home run on April 6 against the Mets’ Jacob
deGrom. Not only that, but his three-run blast proved to be the game-winner in
a shutout.
Despite the new digit on his back, Jazz actually made another
alternation ahead of the 2021 season. He also dyed his hair blue to show his
full commitment and loyalty to the Marlins organization. Jazz Chisholm Jr.
truly made his mark that season, and initially seemed like he would run away
with Rookie Of The Year honors. However, his stats came back to Earth, and he
suffered injuries in the second half, but he still clearly was one of the top
young performers in MLB.
Unique
Personality Becomes Fan Favorite
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| By Chris Cwik/Yahoo! Sports/April 1st, 2022 By Gabe Lacques/Yahoo! Sports/June 25, 2021 |
After bursting onto the scene in the wake of the coronavirus
pandemic, Jazz Chisholm Jr. seemed to carve out a true niche for himself in
South Florida. He always maintains a positive demeanor, and also has a flare
for the dramatic. Not only have locals embraced him, but he has become known
nationwide because of all he brings to the table.
Jazz never fails to entertain, whether it’s with the different
hairstyles and colors that he dons, or even his multiple colorful headbands
that he wears. A fleeting fan base for many years, the Miami Marlins found
exactly what they needed to bring some energy to the ballpark every day and
night.
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