Yankees star says his swing blends Robinson Cano, Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr.
New York Yankees star Jazz Chisholm had an interesting opinion of his swing. The All-Star infielder said he patterned his swing to that of Robinson Cano, Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey Jr.
Chisholm isn't known as a power hitter, with an exit velocity averaging at the 24th percentile. However, his barrel rate is up in the 87th percentile, meaning the star infielder often hits the ball in the "sweet spot" whenever he makes contact.
On the "Joe and Jada" podcast, Chisholm named his inspirations growing up.
"[My idols were] Ken Griffey Jr., Barry Bonds, A-Rod, [Derek] Jeter, and Robinson Cano," he said. (38:05).
He added that he was able to mash up different players' routines and combine them into one.
"If you look at my swing, and I always tell everybody this — it starts off with Robinson Cano, gets into Barry Bonds, and the finish is Ken Griffey Jr. If you watch baseball and watch me swing, that's literally how it looks."
Chisholm has recorded seven home runs, 17 RBIs, and six stolen bases on a .181/.304/.410 clip this season.
Jazz Chisholm powers Yankees to the top of the AL East
With their 3-2 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday night, the New York Yankees moved further up in the American League East standings.
What was predicted to be a competitive division has largely disappointed as the other four squads have floundered. The Bombers lead with a 25-18 record and a +81 run differential. They are four games ahead arch rivals, the Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox, Blue Jays, Rays, and Orioles all own losing records. Boston holds a 22-23 record while the league-last Orioles are the second-worst team in the AL with a 15-27 card.
The runway is certainly clear for the Bombers, given their performance at the plate this year. The Yankees lead the league in home runs with 76, OPS with .828, and are within the top 10 of all offensive counting stats.
Likewise, the pitching crew has delivered even with the absence of ace Gerrit Cole and the struggles of closer Devin Williams. They have a 3.62 ERA and an MLB-leading .209 versus opposition batters.