Jazz Chisholm Jr. plays second base for first time in 2024

Jazz Chisholm Jr. has found a home in center field, manning the position for the Marlins throughout the last two seasons. But moving forward, according to manager Skip Schumaker, the club is going to utilize Chisholm's versatility while also preserving his health by giving him some playing time at his former position, second base.

Chisholm was re-introduced to second base in the fifth inning of Saturday's game against the Cincinnati Reds with Dane Myers shifting over to center.

Originally an infielder, Chisholm went to the Marlins front office prior to the 2023 season and said he’d be willing to play any position that would help the team win. When Miami acquired Luis Arraez in a trade a few weeks before spring training, Chisholm was moved to center field.

Chisholm has been fearless in CF, though sometimes reckless.

Last May, Chisholm crashed into the outfield wall at loanDepot park, banging his toe into a concrete slab at the base of the wall while trying to make a catch. He missed about six weeks while recovering from turf toe and underwent surgery for the injury after the season concluded.

This year, Chisholm has had more run-ins (no pun intended) with the wall, although he hasn’t had to miss any extended time due to injuries, playing in 92 of Miami’s 95 games this year. He played in 157 games combined in 2022 and 2023. 

Still, Chisholm was a serviceable anchor in the outfield for a team that hadn’t had a true center fielder in years. Last year, he recorded four outs above average, according to Statcast. His average throwing velocity of 89.2 mph was in the top 20 percent of all center fielders last year. This year, he took a step back in the advanced metrics department, recording minus-one outs above average.

With Arraez being traded to the San Diego Padres in May, second base was left vacant. Chisholm went to Marlins manager Skip Schumaker a couple weeks ago with the same message. At the time, Schumaker struck the idea down, saying that he didn’t want that in the back of Chisholm’s mind.

But now, certain factors have pushed Schumaker to reconsider the defensive alignment.

“Maybe getting (Jesús) Sánchez more bats against lefties or (Dane) Myers playing more in center field,” Schumaker said. “Jazz can play anywhere, and I'm trying to keep his bat in the lineup playing every day.”

Schumaker alluded to the fact that the outfielders have had to run after balls more lately than they usually do. 

“I'm also trying to keep him playing every day for 160-plus games, which he has never done,” Schumaker said. “So I’m trying to get him DH days. Maybe second base is a way to get them off his feet a little bit. Because I think he can play that in his sleep.”

Chisholm came up to the majors in 2020 as a middle infielder. He settled into a permanent role at second base in 2022. In those three years, Chisholm recorded eight outs above average and six defensive runs saved.

Chisholm has been taking ground balls on the infield prior to almost every game this year, so the rust should be minimal.

Offensively, Chisholm is having perhaps his most well-rounded season of his career. Coming into Saturday’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, Chisholm’s .267 batting average against lefties is a career-high, a rather big accomplishment for someone who was a platoon bat early in his major league career. His walk rate of 8.6 percent is just a tick shy of his career-high, and his strikeout rate of 25.4 percent is the lowest of his career.

Of course, there is another implication to this position change. Chisholm has been the subject of trade rumors, with Jon Heyman of the New York Post reporting the New York Yankees have had internal discussions regarding Chisholm, and that he’d primarily play infield if they do acquire him. Chisholm has also been linked to the Seattle Mariners.

After the All-Star break, Otto Lopez will return from the 10-day injured list after dealing with lower back inflammation. He has been the Marlins second baseman since they traded Arraez and has been the Marlins’ best infielder, recording five defensive runs saved and seven outs above average. 

Schumaker said Lopez could move to shortstop on days where Chisholm plays on the infield.