PHILADELPHIA — The Bronx will never see another Jeter.
The Yankees announced Tuesday that they have released infielder Jeter Downs from his minor league contract and that he has signed with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan.
Downs, 26, signed with the Yankees in the offseason and performed well with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, posting an .858 OPS in 274 at-bats, but was unable to return to the majors.
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He appeared in six games for the Nationals last season and 14 games with Boston in 2022.
Downs has split most of his time between shortstop and third base in the Yankees’ Triple-A division this season, and the Yankees haven’t relied on him much despite DJ LeMahieu and Oswaldo Cabrera struggling at third base.
Downs’ release came two days after the Yankees acquired third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. in a trade, who made his professional debut as a third baseman on Monday against the Phillies.
Chisholm performed well as a hitter, displaying the hitting power that made him an All-Star for the Marlins.
He hit two home runs on Monday, including one off catcher Garrett Stubbs and the bat of Aaron Judge.
“I felt really comfortable at third base,” Chisholm said after Monday’s 14-4 victory, the Yankees’ third win in their past four games.
“It felt great to be back in the infield. I feel like that’s where I’m meant to be.”
