Jazz Chisholm Jr. found himself at the center of attention during the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry series this weekend, both for his play and a mid-game mishap that’s sparking debate.
On Sunday night, Chisholm was mic’d up for a live ESPN interview while playing third base. As he fielded a grounder from Ceddanne Rafaela, his spinning throw to first sailed wide, allowing the runner to advance. Chisholm’s audible frustration—“Damn it!”—was caught on air, fueling criticism of in-game interviews that distract players from the action. Despite the error, the Yankees escaped the inning unscathed, but the Red Sox ultimately prevailed 11-7, taking two of three in the series.
Chisholm, recently back from an oblique injury, has been open about his new approach: playing at “70 percent” effort to stay healthy and productive. The strategy paid off earlier in the series, when he homered and drove in four runs in Friday’s 9-6 Yankees win. Since returning, he’s hitting .500 with two home runs, six RBIs, and three stolen bases, earning praise from teammates for his “electric” but controlled style.
The series also featured off-field drama, with Red Sox rookie pitcher Hunter Dobbins declaring he’d retire before joining the Yankees—a comment Chisholm called “exciting” for the rivalry. But it was Chisholm’s on-field microphone moment that stole the spotlight, raising questions about balancing entertainment and focus in baseball’s biggest matchups.
