Jazz Chisholm blends anime aesthetics and bat science in Yankees’ record-breaking victory

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Jazz Chisholm didn’t just show up at Yankee Stadium on Saturday — he made a statement. Decked out in One Piece-themed gear and swinging a custom bat, Chisholm looked like he stepped straight out of an anime and into the Yankees’ lineup.

It’s the kind of visual you don’t often see in the Yankees, where tradition tends to keep things pretty black-and-white — literally and figuratively. But that’s exactly why Jazz Chisholm fits. He’s not trying to blend in. He’s here to turn heads.

Jazz Chisholm brings flair, power, and a whole lot of personality to the Bronx

And that’s what he’s doing — both with his game and his vibe. “Jazz Chisholm wearing One Piece gear is why he’s my favorite Yankee,” one fan posted. Another: “Channeling his inner Luffy.” For Chisholm, it’s not a gimmick. This is just who he is. Authentic, expressive, and completely unapologetic.

We’ve seen this kind of energy from him before in Miami, but seeing it under the lights in the Bronx? That’s a different kind of stage. Even The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner recently profiled him as one of the most unique personalities in the league — someone who brings his full self into the clubhouse but still earns respect between the lines. And that might be what makes Chisholm such an intriguing fit here: he’s not trying to break the Yankees’ culture — he’s just expanding it.

So far, it looks like the team’s fine with that. And the fans? They’re loving it.

Nine homers, one new bat design, and a lot to talk about

Of course, this wasn’t just Jazz Chisholm’s style show. Saturday’s game was historic for the Yankees as a team. They blasted the Brewers 20–9 in a blowout that saw nine home runs — a new franchise record, and just one shy of the all-time MLB mark.

Aaron Judge hit three. Anthony Volpe and Cody Bellinger joined the fun. And yes, Chisholm got in on it too — with one of the most talked-about bats in baseball right now.

During the YES broadcast, Michael Kay highlighted a subtle but significant change in the bats that several Yankees are using. The team’s analytics department took a look at guys like Volpe and noticed something: he consistently made contact near the label, not the barrel. So the team made an adjustment. They worked with the bat makers to shift more of the wood’s density toward that label area — basically creating a harder sweet spot where players naturally connect.

“They moved a lot of the wood into the label so the harder part of the bat is going to strike the ball,” Kay explained.

The results? Immediate. Volpe went deep again. Bellinger connected. And Jazz Chisholm, using his own personalized version, sent one out too. Judge, for what it’s worth, didn’t appear to be using the new design — but that didn’t stop him from putting on a show.

During spring training, Bellinger explained to the New York Daily News that he’s a big believer in finding what works for your swing: “Some guys like top-heavy bats, others like more control in the hands. You can test exit velo, launch angle — there’s data for everything.”

According to MLB Rule 3.02, all bats have to meet specific dimensions and be made from a single piece of solid wood. Anything experimental needs league approval. It’s still unclear if the Yankees submitted this design to MLB, but considering they’re using them openly on YES broadcasts, this doesn’t feel like something the team is trying to sneak past the league.

And frankly? If these bats help produce games like Saturday’s, you can bet other teams will be watching closely.

Jazz Chisholm might be about to start his first season in the Bronx, but he’s already rewriting the script. He’s loud. He’s fun. He hits tanks. And most of all, he’s being completely himself — something the Yankees haven’t always embraced in recent years. But maybe that’s exactly what this team needs right now. A little swagger. A little anime. A whole lot of Jazz.

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

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