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Yankees Broadcaster Rips Decision To Sit Jazz Chisholm Jr.

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Sep 30, 2025 10:37 PM ET

Aaron Boone leaned into matchups Tuesday night, stacking right-handed bats against Boston Red Sox lefty Garrett Crochet. That meant Jazz Chisholm Jr.—one of the New York Yankees’ most dynamic hitters—started the Wild Card opener on the bench. On YES, after the Red Sox's 3-1 win, broadcaster Michael Kay tore into the choice, arguing the Yankees took the game’s biggest stage away from a player who lives for it.

Chisholm, clearly stung, turned away from reporters in the clubhouse and spoke over his shoulder. It was a 180-degree difference from his usual high-energy and interesting postgame interviews.

Chisholm told reporters Boone texted him the decision the night before.

“We gotta do whatever we gotta do to win, right? That’s how I look at it,” Chisholm told reporters after the game.

When asked if he was surprised, he added: “I guess, yeah.”

Why Boone Sat Chisholm Against Garrett Crochet

Boone’s card was heavy on righties—Amed Rosario and José Caballero both started—to cut down Crochet’s strikeout lane and keep the ball in play. The Yankees also prioritized defense early, with plans to deploy left-handed pop once Boston went to its bullpen.

The problem was that Crochet went deep, and Chisholm only got one at-bat in the ninth inning against Aroldis Chapman as a late-game replacement.

Before the game, Boone said Chisholm, who left Saturday's game after being hit on the arm and did not play Sunday, was healthy.

Kay’s Case

Kay said he understood sitting a slumping Ryan McMahon, but not Chisholm, who’s been a huge part of the offense.

The scene in the clubhouse was unusual. Chisholm turned away from cameras, rifling through empty hangers, careful with his words. He looked defeated.

Kay argued that the decision-makers (Boone and the analytics group) took this opportunity on the big stage from a big-stage player. And Kay worries that they may have “lost” Chisholm by his reaction.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. said that Aaron Boone texted him last night about not being in the starting lineup for Game 1

"We gotta do whatever we gotta do to win, right? That's how I look at it" pic.twitter.com/8hqGzJ5vgs
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) October 1, 2025

The Numbers On Jazz: Season And Vs. Crochet

Chisholm just delivered a 30-30 year for New York (.242/.813 OPS, 31 HR, 31 SB). He wasn’t helpless vs. lefties either (.248/.733 OPS vs LHP), even if the extra-base damage tilted to right-handers. He was 0-for-4 with 1 BB and 3 K lifetime vs. Crochet—small sample, loud whiffs. If you’re building a one-game plan around avoiding strikeouts, you can see why Boone tried the right-handed route first.

Now What?

Crochet was himself, carving through the order and setting a strikeout tone before Boston’s rally finished it. Even the pregame logic (steer clear of left-on-left punchouts early, unleash the bench late) looked shaky once Crochet held velocity and command deep. With the Red Sox starting right-hander Brayan Bello in Game 2, the expectation is that Chisholm returns to the lineup Wednesday night. The conversation cools. If they see another lefty leverage spot late, Boone will have to decide whether spreadsheets or star power get the final at-bat.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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