Jazz Chisholm Jr. Is Entering the Derby and Yankees Know the Risks

The Home Run Derby is built for showmanship. For power. For moments that go viral. In short, New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. is made for this moment.

But it can also be a risk.

Chisholm is the latest Yankee to take a swing at it—literally. He’ll compete in Monday night’s Derby in Atlanta, joining a list that includes Aaron Judge, Gary Sánchez, Giancarlo Stanton, and others. It’s a fun opportunity for a young player who thrives under the lights.

But it also comes with a question: Is it worth it?

Chisholm is coming off two different injuries this season—a neck issue and a minor oblique strain. He’s missed time, managed workload, and eased back into the lineup. Now he’s stepping into a slugfest that demands repeated, max-effort swings.

That kind of swing count isn’t nothing. And if anyone in the Yankees clubhouse needs a reminder of the cost, all they have to do is look at Judge.

The last Yankee to win the Derby was Judge in 2017. He was electric, sending balls into orbit and making it look effortless. But he later needed shoulder surgery, something he’s never directly tied to the Derby, but also hasn’t dismissed.

He’s never competed in the event again.

To his credit, Chisholm says he’s not trying to overswing. “I don’t need to go 100%,” he told reporters this week. “Just let my natural power take over.”

It’s the right mindset. But when you’ve already dealt with core and upper-body issues in a single season, every swing carries a little more weight.

Chisholm could make it memorable. He could even win it. But in July, the stakes aren’t always in the trophy.