It was just a few weeks ago that Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s name was being brought up in trade rumors. The Yankees were believed to be in on Bo Bichette, who eventually signed the Mets, and their dynamic second basemen no doubt attracted some tantalizing offers.
But as you saw Chisholm walk around and greet kids at Community School 55 in the Bronx on Friday morning, you couldn’t help but feel that he belongs in pinstripes. Sure, the Yankees have been accused of being too passive in their pursuit for new talent, but that doesn’t pertain to him.
Recently, MLB TV ranked him as the No. 2 second baseman in baseball; he earned the second All-Star nod of his career last season, and definitively proved something that he’s long held: The lights aren’t too bright for him. If anything, it’s almost a shame he had to play five years in the mostly empty confines of Miami’s loanDepot Park.
And though what he was doing on Friday doesn’t directly translate to on-the-field results, it does speak highly to his character — and good character does make for good clubhouses.
On this day, Chisholm paved the way for the elementary school’s new computer lab, gifting 25 touchscreen laptops, an interactive screen, a PlayStation 5 and, just for kicks, brand new Jordans for members of the fifth-grade class.
This type of stuff isn’t unheard of — athletes often do charity work, and the Jazz Chisholm Foundation is no different — but as someone who has been to dozens of these events, this one rang a little truer. Chisholm has been to this school three times. One hallway is adorned with his signed poster, the computer lab has his likeness on the wall and the kids greet him like an old friend.
It’s personal for him: When he was a kid growing up in the Bahamas, Gary Sheffield visited his Little League team and helped rebuild some fields there. It’s one of the reasons he’s excited to represent Great Britain in the World Baseball Classic — so the kids back in the Bahamas, a British Commonwealth — can see one of their own on an international stage. He also pointed out that CC Sabathia helped him out when he was 16, signing his first professional contract.
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. after his 5th inning homer in Game 3 of the ALDS on Oct 7, 2025 at Yankee Stadium. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
“I was in the Bahamas for two weeks straight this offseason and hanging out with kids in my Little League and having baby boys coming up and saying, ‘You’re my superhero. I want to be like you,’ ” Chisholm said. “How can you not be moved by something like that? You want to do better for your community, especially from where you came from and you know how hard it is to get where I’m at now, you know? It’s just something I genuinely want to do. I wish every athlete would want to be genuinely giving back to the community.”
It certainly felt genuine. The kids chanted his name as he walked into the auditorium, and when he told them that it was his grandmother’s birthday, they broke out in song; Chisholm taped the whole thing, grinning. He was escorted to the music room, where three children played him another song from “KPop Demon Hunters” and then cut the ribbon to the computer lab.
The grade-schoolers liked the new tech just fine, but the big draw were the Jordans. It may not seem like a big deal, comparatively, but Chisholm, who didn’t grew up with much, knows that kids with tough socioeconomic backgrounds deserve more than just the necessities. They should have joy, too.
And there was plenty of joy . . . and grins . . . and a few screeches.
Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. signs autographs for the students at CS 55 on Friday. Credit: Ed Quinn
“Not every kid that’s raised in the hood has to be raised the way we were raised,” he said. “I just know how these kids are. I’ve been in this building a couple times and I know that they just genuinely love that we come here and give our time. It’s not about the things they’re getting, you know? I know they’re going to be super excited about what they’re getting but I just love that I came here and just gave a poster that I signed one day and everybody was just happy for that . . .
“The way these kids love is different.”
All of that has very little to do with baseball, but baseball is better for it, and so is the Bronx.
Laura Albanese is the Mets beat writer for Newsday. She’s been covering MLB since 2014 after starting at Newsday as an intern seven years earlier.