New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge has been outstanding this season and is a strong contender for his third American League MVP award. Despite Judge’s dominance, MLB insider Joel Sherman suggests that another player on the Yankees exhibits even greater raw skill, shifting the conversation away from Judge’s celebrated talent.
Sherman points out that while the Yankees’ roster includes three former MVPs—Cody Bellinger, Giancarlo Stanton, and Paul Goldschmidt—the player he praises for exceptional skills is neither Judge nor any of these three. During episode 62 of Pinstripe Post on Tuesday, Sherman identified this player as Jazz Chisholm Jr., emphasizing his remarkable athletic abilities.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.: A Unique Athletic Talent on the Yankees
Joel Sherman describes Jazz Chisholm Jr. as possibly the most skilled player in baseball, highlighting his “whippy strength” and impressive speed, even though Chisholm has recently returned from the injured list. Sherman compares Chisholm’s dynamic and explosive athleticism to two well-known athletes, saying,
“I dare say maybe even more talented,” Sherman said (Timeline: 24:58) and I want to be careful here. I’m talking about skill, and I’m not talking about the baseball player because we see Judge as a Hall of Famer. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is about the most skilled player in the sport.”
“There’s a Dominique Wilkins part of him. He’s a human highlight. Or there’s a Russell Westbrook quality to him where he’s the best athlete on the court, and you’re not sure, is he gonna help us win or lose by being the best athlete on the court? Because, like, he’s going way faster than everybody else,” Sherman added.
Westbrook, the 2017 NBA MVP and record-holder for most triple-doubles, is known for his relentless energy and intensity on the court. Sherman draws parallels between Westbrook’s style and Chisholm’s high-speed, high-impact approach to the game on the field.
Chisholm joined the Yankees from the Miami Marlins last season after five years in Miami, where he earned an All-Star selection in 2022. His arrival to the Bronx brought renewed excitement due to his unique playing style and athleticism.
Guidance from Yankees Coaches Aims to Harness Chisholm’s Athleticism
While Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s exceptional athleticism offers the Yankees significant potential, Joel Sherman notes that it can sometimes work against the team due to excessive pacing on the field. One notable coach, assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler, has advised Chisholm to regulate his pace for better effectiveness.
“Pat Roessler, who’s one of the assistant hitting coaches, and Jazz are very close, and Pat Roessler has talked to him about, like, sometimes you have to throttle down to 70% because sometimes he’s moving too fast for his own good,” Sherman said.
This coaching advice reflects an effort to help Chisholm balance his natural explosiveness with smarter, more tactical gameplay. Sherman expresses confidence that if Chisholm can refine his approach by improving his game-reading skills and effort management, he has the potential to become one of the elite players in Major League Baseball.