Chisholm is a frontrunner for Rookie of the Year Award

Tue, May 4th 2021, 08:51 AM

Despite being on the injured list (IL) for a week, the impact of Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm is clear and obvious as he is already a frontrunner for the National League Rookie of the Year Award in Major League Baseball (MLB).

The Bahamian professional baseball player with the Miami Marlins had a tremendous first month of the season, with a slash line of .290/.375/.551, four home runs, seven RBIs (runs batted in) and 11 runs scored. Despite missing the Marlins’ last four games with a strained left hamstring, he is second on the team in batting (.290) and slugging percentage (SLG) – .551, tied for second in home runs with four and bases on balls with nine, third in on-base percentage (OBP) – .375, fourth in hits with 20, in a three-way tie for fourth in runs scored with 11, and is in a three-way tie for sixth in RBIs with seven.

Chisholm leads all Major League Baseball second basemen in on-base, plus slugging percentage (OPS) – .926, and is tied for the lead in the National League and tied for third in the majors in stolen bases with seven.

According to Score Media and Gaming (theScore), a digital media company based in Toronto, Canada, that analyzes sports scores, data and news in major professional leagues, Chisholm is out front in the race for the National League Rookie of the Year Award. If successful, he will join a list that includes Hall of Fame players Willie Mays, Frank Robinson, Willie McCovey and Johnny Bench just to name a few. 

In sizing up the 23-year-old talented infielder, theScore stated: “He’s fast, he’s brash, and he’s incredibly fun to watch. Chisholm may be on the IL, but that doesn’t change how exciting and productive the speedy infielder was before straining his hamstring. Stolen bases are becoming increasingly rare, but Chisholm has showcased an ability to run wild while also flexing his muscle, and a 30-30 season seems to be within his grasp. If he doesn’t miss too much time, he could still run all the way to the NL’s top rookie prize.”

Chisholm suffered the leg while running the bases in a game against the Milwaukee Brewers last Tuesday. After beating out an infield hit on the first pitch of the game, Chisholm stole second, which is when he appeared to suffer the 

injury, advanced to third on a groundout by Miguel Rojas and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jesús Aguilar. He was taken out of the game after scoring.

The speedy infielder, who is regarded by Statcast and MLB.com as one of the most exciting young stars in the majors, is expected to return to action around the end of May. Isan Díaz, who was beaten out for the starting second baseman job in spring training by Chisholm, has been filling in his absence.

The Marlins are certainly feeling the pinch, losing four out of five in Chisholm’s absence, and dropping to the bottom of the NL East Division with an 11-16 win/loss record, but just two and a half games behind the frontrunning Washington Nationals. The Marlins were swept by the Nationals over the weekend. Chisholm, a consistent and legitimate speed-power threat, has a 1.0 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) stat, a calculation by online site FanGraphs in determining how valuable a player is in comparison to a replacement level player.

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