BALTIMORE — Yankees’ Smooth Jazz Performance Against the Orioles

Initially, the Smooth Jazz seemed to keep the Yankees in check during their opening game. However, after the Yankees’ 6-2 victory over the Orioles on Tuesday, Jazz Chisholm Jr. shared that he’s “working hard every day” to return to his peak performance—the kind the Yankees need.

“When you’re struggling, it’s natural to feel frustrated,” Chisholm admitted, mentioning that he was left out of the game against Orioles left-handed pitcher Trevor Rogers. “I’m just not hitting well right now.” After a rough 0-for-4 showing on Monday, which included three strikeouts when it mattered most, Chisholm’s numbers have dropped significantly to a .200 batting average with a .600 OPS this season. Although he hit 31 home runs and stole 31 bases last year, he now feels like a mere shadow of that player, especially considering he had aimed for a 50-50 season.

In a pivotal year for his contract, Chisholm recognizes the expectations but insists that he isn’t dwelling on the uncertainty of his future. “No, not now,” he said. “It’s still too early for that. Right now, I just want to help the team win, and when I feel like I’m not contributing, it really stings.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone noted that perhaps Chisholm is feeling the pressure and trying too hard. “There are times this season where it seemed like he might be turning a corner, followed by times where he regresses,” Boone reflected. “He hasn’t broken out yet, but I’m confident he will. It’s tough as a hitter; even the great players face these ups and downs. You need mental toughness to keep at it and stick to your process.”

Unlike some of his teammates who may be having a rough time due to bad luck, Chisholm doesn’t have those fundamental metrics in his favor. Last season, he had a 15 percent barrel rate, placing him in the 91st percentile. Currently, it has dropped to 6.0 percent—just 31st percentile.

Last year, his expected weighted on-base percentage (wOBA) was .346, good for the 78th percentile. This season it’s at .262, falling into the 5th percentile. Similarly, his expected slugging percentage was .481 last year, ranking 83rd percentile. Today, he sits at .310, down to the 11th percentile.

“Every time I step up, I focus on hitting to center field,” Chisholm stated. “I just need to swing at the right pitches and execute.”

Due to impending rain, the final game of this series has been rescheduled from 6:35 p.m. to 1:05 p.m.