The Miami Marlins’ start to the 2021 season hasn’t been ideal, but certain players are showing out wonderfully. With Miami’s big strength being in their young talent, starting second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. has risen to be a fan-favorite for multiple reasons.
It may be his blue hair, or it could be his outstanding level of confidence. Whatever the reason is, Chisholm is looking like a future superstar, and he’s only 23.
A mixture of speed and power
Chisholm may have en electric personality, but he also has an electric playing style. Jazz’s ability to truly “fly” around the diamond is remarkable. The MLB average sprint speed (ft/sec) is 27.0, while Chisholm is currently ranked No. 21 amongst all batters in the MLB with a 28.6 sprint speed. The only other Marlins players with an above average sprint speed are Jon Berti (15th), Adam Duvall (24th), Corey Dickerson (81st) and Starling Marte (82nd). When compared to all batters in the MLB Chisholm has placed himself in the 94th percentile for sprint speed.
A man once said, “With great power comes great responsibility.” Being named the starting second baseman for a team with playoff hopes alive needs that power, and Chisholm has the responsibility to bring that needed power. Not only does Jazz bring power, he’s bringing superstar-like hitting.
Currently sat with a 3.25 batting average, Chisholm is having a lot of successful at-bats. Placing in the 96th percentile for Slugging, he’s also hitting the baseball with everything he has. Chisholm is currently averaging a 92.5 MPH exit velocity, with most of these hits clocking in at 100+ MPH. Some may agree that Jazz has power, but question his consistency. Compared to his decent 2020 showing, Chisholm is showing that not only can he bring the power, but has also shown consistency throughout the first 15 games of the 2021 season.
Taking a closer look into Chisholm’s at-bats, something really interesting pops up. When Jazz takes a wack at a pitch, you’ll see that he’s going with a low-to-high swing. This looks more like a golf swing but it gives him more of a chance to truly get under and crush a baseball. How did he get such a beautiful swing? In an interview earlier this year, Chisholm Jr. said he isn’t trying to change up his swing, but it’s more of his barrel control that’s a top priority. The numbers show that Chisholm has mastered that previously sought barrel control, as he’s currently placed in the 100th percentile for that mark.
Another reason why Chisholm swing is so elite is the flow of his swing. The flow of his swing is really quick. He has the ability to turn quickly, meaning that it’s easier for him to get to the faster-thrown pitches. On this home run that had a 100MPH pitch speed from Mets’ Jacob DeGrom, Chisholm was able to turn quick and send a baseball into the upper deck of Citi Field. This is also where barrel control can help any baseball player. This is also part of the reason why Chisholm is placed in the 83rd percentile for average exit velocity. The exit velocity on this Home Run? 107MPH.
So, what’s next for Chisholm? Currently, he’s only the starting second baseman for the Marlins, but his future is brighter than ever. If he keeps his consistency, MLB fans could expect to see Chisholm’s name pop up more than the biggest stars in the MLB.
