Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr., who was acquired from the Marlins before the trade deadline, answers questions about the pennant race from Post columnist Steve Selby.
Q: It seems like you were born to play in New York.
A: I guess I was born to play in New York. … The lights are brighter, so I feel like I play a little better when the lights are on the brightest and the pressure is on.
Q: Where does that fearless spirit come from?
A: I feel like I've always wanted to do that. When I was a kid, I dreamed of playing in the World Series with the lights flashing. … Like, I love modeling, going to fashion shows, acting, all that stuff, so I loved anywhere there were cameras. So I feel like the cameras here are bigger and brighter.
Q: Why would you buy a ticket to see a Jazz Chisholm Jr. baseball game?
A: I buy it because you always see happiness, you always see somebody having fun, it brings excitement. It makes you excited to see what's going to happen next, and you never know what you're going to do next. He'll steal a base before the pitcher even lets the ball go. … He'll run the bases like it's his last baseball. He'll play defense hard every time. He's a little guy, so you never know, but he might hit the ball 450 feet, 460 feet. You never know what's going to happen.
Q: Are you the most exciting player in baseball?
A: From my perspective, I'm sure it's me and a few other guys who can compete for that title.
Q: Who are the others?
A: Shohei Ohtani, Ellie de la Cruz, Aaron Judge. They're very exciting guys to watch. Ohtani in particular, hitting 50 home runs, hitting 100 home runs and pitching a shutout game, that's incredible. Captain, my captain is here. [Judge]He can average 60 home runs a year (laughs). You're just hoping that between him and the ball every day, it's going to hit out of the park. [Giancarlo] Stanton and [Juan] Soto. That's what you can expect when you come to watch the Yankees.
Q: Are you going to sell on keeping Soto with the Yankees?
A: (Laughs) I want to stay with the Yankees as well. I want to play with Soto for the rest of my career.
Q: So what is your pitch to him?
A: Brother, we're together! (laughs)
Q: You might end up playing second base in the future.
A: I don't know. Let's say we win the championship and leave Soto in *****. and ***** Graeber [Torres].
Q: But is it okay to play?
A: Third baseman for the rest of my career? Yeah, that's OK.
Q: Can you win a Gold Glove as a third baseman?
A: Honestly, I think I could win a Gold Glove anywhere if I just stuck around and learned the position. … I've been working all offseason on learning the position, so I definitely think I could win a Gold Glove.
Q: What is your mentality on the field?
A: I just enjoy it. It's a winning mentality, not a losing mentality. It's a mindset that no matter what happens, we can always come back and we can always win this game. I've seen teams in baseball come back from 10 runs down and win the game. It's very difficult, but not impossible.
Q: What drives you?
A: Winning. And seeing other guys that want to win with me. That motivates me to play better, especially when they believe in me too. When they believe in me and I'm surrounded by a winning mentality and culture, I feel like that's what motivates me the most.
Q: Tell us about your personality off the field.
A: If you see me on the field, you know what I am like off the field. I am the same way. I'm laughing, smiling, joking, dancing all day long. That's who I am off the field.
Q: What's your favorite tattoo?
A: This home run. It was a home run I hit against a left-handed player. It was big news because I was bad at hitting against left-handed players. At first, I thought I was going to be an All-Star. [2022]Or, I was already an All-Star in my first season, and I think I led the league in home runs right before I got hurt and had a season-ending injury. Everyone was saying I was awful against lefty pitchers or whatever, but the next two games I went 7-for-4 against lefties in the upper tier at Marlins Park, with 2 doubles, 1 single and 1 home run.
Q: Do doubters motivate you?
A: Yes. I love it (laughs). I love it when people doubt me. Even my coach said the best way to coach me is to tell me I can't do it.
Q: Have you always been told that?
A: All my life. When I was a kid, I was told I'd never hit a home run. When I was a kid, I was told I wasn't fast enough. My dad was a fast runner. He was going to compete in the Olympics, but he got hurt on the way to the qualifiers.
Q: What is the greatest adversity you have overcome?
A: 2016 was my first year, I played in rookie league at 17, 18 and was the youngest guy in the All-Star game. I had some coaches that didn't really like me because I was always having fun and messing around. I was laughing during practice and not concentrating on practice. But I was always doing my job. But I didn't take it too seriously because I didn't want to make it a job. Some coaches told me I'm never going to go anywhere, I'm never going to be anything, etc. I feel like 2017 came along. This was the year they told me, “Oh, you're going to play A-ball now. You're not going to play against guys that are just out of college anymore, you're going to play against guys that have experience.” And then less than a month into the season I got hurt and had knee surgery that was like season-ending. And then the next year they were just talking all through spring training like, “Oh, you're not going to do that now.” I was supposed to be the No. 1 prospect, but then I was like No. 3 or No. 5 or something like that. And then the season started. I had a hitting coach, Franklin Stubbs, and I still talk to him, who said, “Look what I'm going to do this year. I'm going to hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases. I don't want anyone to ever talk to me about my talent again.” And I did it.
Q: You play with joy and fun, but deep down you seem to be a ruthless assassin. Is that right?
A: 100 percent. … I hide it well. … My brother always says I always find something. … He always says, you know, [Michael] Jordan and Kobe [Bryant] It's like, “Oh, that guy did something to me, let's go get him.” I do a little bit of that. I have that in me. I don't know where it comes from, because I don't have anybody in my family. But I have to create something more than what is.
Q: So you have a mamba mentality in you.
A: Yeah. (Laughs) I was definitely under Kobe, I mean, I've been watching him my whole life.
Q: Your grandmother, Patricia Coakley, is a former shortstop for the Bahamas. What does she think about you playing for the Yankees?
A: Yes, she does, but she was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. In the Bahamas, I always tell everybody, the only channels we get are the New York channels. So we don't even get the Florida channels. So we have the YES Network and stuff like that, so when it was the Brooklyn Dodgers, she was a fan all the way. And then when they moved to LA, she was like, “Okay, I'm an LA Dodgers fan.” We grew up watching the Yankees all the time, so that's why she loves the Yankees no matter what.
Q: Does Grammy Pat always call you before and after a match?
A: Usually after a phone call. If I don't answer the phone, she'll send me a long text (laughs). A long text or a long voicemail.
Q: Is she still criticizing you?
A: Oh man, it's tough. I try not to listen to criticism because then I'm like, “Oh, I already know that. I already know that.”
Q: What was your relationship like with Derek Jeter?
A: I feel like we had a kind of big brother/little brother relationship when we were in Miami. It's a little story about when I wore No. 2. So, my favorite number is 3.
Q: Why is that?
A: I grew up watching [Ken] Griffey [Jr.] When I was wearing number 3, [Alex Rodriguez] Back then, they both wore the number 3 at the same time, they were competing with each other, and they were MVPs. When I was a switch hitter, I was hitting like A-Rod on the right and Griffey on the left. So they both wore the number 3, and I wore the number 3. My stepfather showed me my uniform when I was 11 years old, and I was wearing the number 13. That was in 2009. A-Rod was playing for the Yankees and he was wearing the number 13. So that year, I wore the number 13.
Q: So you don't believe in superstitions?
A: No, not really. It's just that I came here and No. 13 was available and A-Rod said he liked seeing me wearing No. 13, so that's fine.
Q: Do you miss McDonald's every day?
A: No, I don't miss McDonald's every day. In fact, someone tried to invite me to McDonald's the other day, but I declined (laughs).
Q: What did you usually eat there?
A: I just loved fries. I would order large fries and nuggets or something like that. I didn't do anything special. But I loved fries every day. I loved fries with sweet and sour sauce every day.
Q: Do you have a personal chef now?
A: Yes, we have a chef.
Q: How much of a difference did that make?
A: I haven't lost weight like I used to. I came into spring training at like 187 pounds and then I got down to like 176 for the season. I haven't gotten under 180 this year. I think I'm about 185 now. So having a personal chef has really helped me.
Q: Did you get stabbed once?
A: Yes, when I was a child … about 14 years old.
Q: What happened?
A: We were just playing basketball in a bad place in the Bahamas. We were just kids, but there are bad places everywhere. I grew up there, so it wasn't really surprising to me. But I learned a lot from it. I learned that no matter where you are in life, there's always going to be people who are jealous and want to do something to you.
Q: Where were you stabbed?
A: In my arms [right forearm].
Q: Did you go to the hospital?
A: It wasn't too bad, it was just sliced.
Q: Are there three dinner guests?
A: Kobe Bryant, Ken Griffey Jr. and Barack Obama.
Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: Disney's “Hercules.”
Q: Who is your favorite actor?
A: Jamie Foxx.
Q: Who is your favorite actress?
A: Meagan Good.
Q: Who is your favorite celebrity?
A: Don Toliver.
Q: What's your favorite meal?
A: Oxtail, peas and rice.
Q: What is your favorite thing about New York?
A: The lights. Just the city lights.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: What I'm most proud of is that I think everyone thought I would fail in a lot of ways. But what I'm most proud of is that I didn't. I've always maintained the right image, I've always maintained the right attitude with my kids. People thought I would change who I am, but I'm glad I didn't. They say money changes people, and stuff like that. I'm happy to be the person I am. Every time they call my name, I turn around and I look and I wave back.
Q: What are your personal goals?
A: To win. The only goal in my mind right now is to win a World Series.
Q: Does this team have the ability to do that?
A: I think this is the team that will win. We have a good mentality. This team will be unstoppable against any opponent.
