New York Yankees All-Star slugger Jazz Chisholm Jr. is having one of the worst seasons of his career in 2026. However, the Yankees infielder showed a glimpse of his hitting ability against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.
Chisholm smashed two home runs with five RBIs in an 8-5 win against the Pirates in the series opener. It was the Yankees infielder’s third home run in the last two games.
Although Chisholm is batting a career-low .228 this year, Yankees manager Aaron Boone expects him to do “something special” in the second half of the season.
•
“Hitting’s hard, man,” Boone said. “He’s in position here with a couple of good months to be right in line with what he’s had the last couple of seasons. He’s in position to hopefully go out and do something special for us the rest of the way.”
Chisholm gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead in the first inning after a three-run homer. While the Pirates scored five runs to make it 5-4, the Yankees infielder overturned the deficit with a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning.
Jose Caballero extended the lead with a two-run double following Chisholm’s second homer of the game. The Yankees held the Pirates scoreless for the next six innings to clinch the series opener.
Aaron Boone praised Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s “big night” after Yankees’ win over Pirates
The Yankees have won six of their last eight games with Jazz Chisholm Jr. heating up at the plate. Yankees skipper Aaron Boone admitted it was a “big night” for the team.
“When he gets it rolling, he’s capable of big things, and obviously that was a big night for him and for us tonight,” Boone said.
Chisholm revealed that his teammates have been trying to motivate him amid his underwhelming season.
“Sometimes they see me dragging a little bit lately,” Chisholm said. “They just were like, ‘Bro, let’s not forget who you are. You’re the greatest in the world.’
Following Monday’s win, the Yankees sit 1.5 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays in the race for the AL East title.
Edited by Chaitanya Prakash
