For the second time in his career, Yankees’ Jaz Chisholm faced a broken bat scary moment. However, he escaped the flying bat shard this time.
In a contest marked by both danger and determination, Jazz Chisholm Jr. found himself at the narrative center of the New York Yankees’ 6-4 defeat to the Cleveland Guardians on Monday night at Progressive Field. The Yankees’ second baseman narrowly escaped injury when a splintered bat fragment spiraled toward him during a crucial defensive play. Later, he launched a powerful home run that briefly revitalized his team’s comeback hopes.
The frightening moment underscored baseball’s inherent unpredictability, as a jagged piece of Brayan Rocchio’s shattered bat hurtled in Chisholm’s direction during a pivotal fourth-inning play, causing the athletic infielder to prioritize safety over making what could have been an important defensive stop.
“I want to make every play out there for my guy, but at the same time, you don’t want to die,” Chisholm said after the game. “You got a sharp object coming your way. I’ve seen guys get stabbed with broken bats in person, so I know how bad the injury can be. The toughest thing to do as a baseball player right now is to stay on the field. So at the same time, we got to protect ourselves when we’re playing out there, especially when stuff like that is happening.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. knows the danger firsthand. He was hit in the calf by a bat fragment while playing shortstop in High-A, and witnessed similar incidents during his time with the Marlins. “It happened to me while playing with the Miami Marlins—I got struck in the calf,” he recalled.
Split-second decision turns costly
With the Yankees already trailing 4-0, Rocchio hit a soft grounder that seemed playable for Chisholm at second. However, as the bat exploded upon contact, Chisholm made an instantaneous choice to protect himself rather than field the ball. The grounder rolled through, allowing another run to score and extending Cleveland’s advantage.
“I want to make every play out there for my guy, but at the same time, you’ve got a sharp object coming your way,” Chisholm explained. “You’ve got to protect yourself.”
That defensive concession helped the Guardians establish a 5-0 lead that ultimately proved just enough to withstand New York’s late-inning rally.
Chisholm’s season: Power flashes amid spotlight
Chisholm’s 2025 campaign in pinstripes has been a study in contrasts. His two-run homer in Monday’s eighth inning—a 383-foot rocket with an exit velocity of 108.1 mph—tied him with team superstar Aaron Judge for the Yankees’ lead in home runs with seven.
“Still hitting the ball hard but finally getting it to fall somewhere that’s not in the park at all,” Chisholm said. “Trying to get the base hits, as well, not only home runs. It was very relieving, but at the same time, still got to keep on working and grinding through it.”
Yet consistency has remained elusive. Entering Monday’s game, Chisholm was stuck in a 1-for-15 cold stretch, with his season numbers reflecting broader difficulties: a .161 batting average, .680 OPS, and 31 strikeouts in 87 at-bats.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone remains optimistic about Chisholm’s potential, highlighting his impressive 16.7% barrel rate that ranks among MLB’s elite.
“I feel like he’s been hitting the ball hard,” Boone said. “He’s been hitting the ball on the screws a fair amount. There’s been some swing-and-miss there and some strikeouts, but he’s so talented, he’ll get it going and get hot. He can really, with what he does on the bases and the power, can really get it going.”
On-field tension and off-field distractions
Complicating Chisholm’s early-season journey is pending disciplinary action. He’s currently appealing a one-game suspension issued following his ejection during Friday’s matchup with the Tampa Bay Rays. Chisholm was removed after disputing strike calls and subsequently violated league policy by posting on social media during the game that the umpire’s call “wasn’t even (expletive) close.” MLB regulations prohibit players from social media activity during games.
When asked about the appeal process, Chisholm expressed uncertainty about the timeline.
When asked about the appeal process, Chisholm expressed uncertainty about the timeline while emphasizing his focus remains on playing rather than the pending disciplinary matter.
A game of near-misses
Monday’s defeat epitomized the frustrations plaguing both Chisholm and the Yankees. His night included striking out looking in the first inning, lining into an unassisted double play in the fourth, and a sixth-inning strikeout that prompted him to slam his bat and helmet in visible frustration.
“I don’t think I can say that on TV,” Chisholm said when asked about the double play. “But it’s just been unlucky.”
Though his late home run provided momentary validation, it wasn’t sufficient to overcome the deficit created by starter Clarke Schmidt’s difficult outing, which saw the right-hander surrender five earned runs through just four innings of work.
Broken bat incidents: a growing concern?
The flying bat fragment wasn’t an isolated occurrence in recent Yankees games. Just one day earlier, Aaron Judge‘s broken bat altered a ground ball’s path, helping him reach base during New York’s victory over Tampa Bay. Boone commented on the unusual frequency of these incidents, noting that it’s rare to see broken bats impact plays even once in a season, yet they had witnessed two such instances in consecutive games.
Chisholm referenced his personal history with such dangers, recalling an incident from his minor league career when he was struck by a broken bat.
“The toughest thing to do as a baseball player right now is to stay on the field,” he said. “At the same time, we’ve got to protect ourselves when we’re playing out there, especially when stuff like that’s happening.”
Yankees need Chisholm’s bat to heat up
With teammates Anthony Volpe, Austin Wells, and Cody Bellinger all experiencing offensive difficulties, Chisholm’s production becomes increasingly vital for balancing the Yankees’ lineup. His power potential is evident, but the team desperately needs more consistent contact as they battle in the fiercely competitive AL East.
As the series against Cleveland continues, the Yankees will turn to Will Warren for a stronger pitching performance. Meanwhile, Chisholm remains focused on maintaining his health, avoiding dangerous situations on the field, and converting his hard-hit balls into meaningful offensive production.
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