Jazz Chisholm’s ‘70 percent’ strategy pays off in big night for Yankees

Maybe Jazz Chisholm Jr. has unlocked the secret for his success: Don’t give it your all. 

“Just go at 70 percent,’’ Chisholm said of his newfound approach to the game. “Play at 70 percent: offense [and] defense. Don’t overswing, don’t swing and miss as much.” 

Whatever the strategy, it’s working for Chisholm. 

For the third time in four games since returning from the strained oblique that landed him on the injured list, he had a multi-hit performance in Friday’s 9-6 win over the Red Sox in The Bronx. 

Chisholm got the Yankees going with a three-run homer in the bottom of the first, added a single and a stolen base in the second and another base hit and swipe of second in the sixth before he was thrown out attempting to steal third later in the inning. 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. had a big night for the Yankees in their win over the Red Sox on June 6, 2025.

He also drilled a liner to right in the eighth and is 8-for-16 with a pair of homers and three stolen bases since being activated. 

The spark provided by Chisholm is a product, he said, of a renewed focus since getting healthy again — and it started during his three-game minor league rehab assignment with Double-A Somerset.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. rounds the bases after homering for the Yankees.

Following his three-hit game in Thursday’s win over Cleveland, Chisholm credited his time in the minors. 

“I’m feeling like it’s minor league baseball again,’’ Chisholm said. “That short rehab stint in Double-A took me back to my days when I was hitting .300 and doing the things I’m starting to do now again.” 

It was reinforced by assistant hitting coach Pat Roessler. 

“Roessler said at 70 [percent], I’m one of the best out there,” Chisholm said. “At 100 percent, I might be dog crap. As you can tell, I was hitting .171 at 100 [percent].” 

In fact, he was hitting an abysmal .157 with a meager OPS of .653 on April 20. 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. slides in safely at second base.

Whatever is working for Chisholm, the Yankees will take it. 

Chisholm’s turnaround began before his injury and minor league assignment, as he went 6-for-22 with a double and a homer in eight games prior to the strained oblique, but he still had 10 strikeouts in 31 plate appearances. 

In his last two games, Chisholm has hit rockets, mostly up the middle, and his OPS is back up to .797, much more in line with what the Yankees expected when they acquired him from the Marlins at last year’s trade deadline. 

“When you step out there in Yankee Stadium, the adrenaline is gonna be flowing,’’ Aaron Judge said. “It’s really just about slowing everything down.” 

And Judge said he noticed Chisholm doing that during his homer. 

“I was out there on second base,’’ Judge said. “It looked like he took just a nice, easy swing on a tough curveball and hit it out to center field.” 

Jazz Chisholm Jr. helped the Yankees to a win on Friday night.

And Chisholm’s ability to play second and third base has given the Yankees flexibility, with DJ LeMahieu more comfortable at second base. 

He’s taken a similar approach in the field, as well. 

“I’ve heard that all my life, to tone down the way I play,” Chisholm said. “It’s electric, but you can be electric and controlled at the same time. “ 

That doesn’t mean it’s simple. 

Chisholm called it, “Super challenging. The only thing I knew was how to go fast.”