With the Yankees having a 51-22 record, an immediate change was a necessity. To completely overhaul their outfield department, the Bronx Bombers acquired Jazz Chisholm Jr. The trade was done with the Miami Marlins on Saturday, whereas the Pinstripes traded three of their minor league players. However, the recent addition of the 26-year-old gun outfielder has brewed some trouble for Gleyber Torres. Torres, who has been sluggish for quite a few months, showed his caliber against the Red Sox.

In the series opener, the two-time All-Star player smashed three hits, albeit one of which was in a losing cause. Also, during the second game on Sunday, he clutched with a two-run double and took the Bronx Bombers home with an 11-8 win over the Boston Red Sox. Still, with the arrival of Chisholm, who usually plays the second base, Torres garnered his thoughts on his long-time 2B position, neglecting the unusual third base dilemma. 

Gleyber Torres on his second base position for the Yankees

As Torres has started to find his rhythm with victory over their arch-rivals, the Yankees might look to experiment with outfielder positions. Reflecting on the idea of playing 3B, Torres said, “I’m a second baseman. I play second.” Looking at Gleyber’s MLB career, he has played at the second base position since 2022. The 27-year-old outfielder made 252 appearances at the shortstop position in a span of his seven-year career. Also, for the New York Yankees, Torres has not played at the third baseman position even once. 

However, despite Gleyber Torres’s reluctance for his 2B position, his recent performances have been below par. Looking at his last 18 games for the Yankees, he was slashing at just .159/.247/.318/.564 and was unreliable on the field. A prime example would be his May 2024 game against the Houston Astros. After Juan Soto reached the first base, Torres’s decision to turn around instead of going home led to the inning-ending timeout. 

On the flip side, it seemed Aaron Boone was also aware of  Gleyber Torres’s objection to moving to the 3B position. Backing up Torres on his second base position, he said, “Jazz has been playing center field now for a while. I feel like maybe a little easier to transition him to a new position than having two guys go to newer positions.” This probably might have cleared the confusion between Chisholm and Torres. Jazz Chisholm has been a versatile player for the Miami Marlins. He could play center field, lead-off spot, and be the second baseman, as he did for the Marlins. Considering such an agile and versatile prospect, Yankees manager Aaron Boone has come up with strategies for Chisholm Jr’s field placement. 

Aaron Boone reveals how the Pinstripes will use Chisholm Jr moving forward

On Saturday night after the Yankees acquired Chisholm Jr, Aaron Boone had his first impressions of the aspiring outfielder. Before the Yankees game against the Red Sox on Sunday, Boone said, “He wants to win. You certainly could hear it in his voice how excited he is to be coming here.” Indeed, the Yankees took the crucial step to get Jazz, and his performance with the Marlins might have been the deciding factor. In 2024, he has been slashing at .249/.323/.407 with 13 homers and has a great 50 RBI. Also, the young lad offers speed, agility, and power, and his versatility to play in different positions might come in handy for the Yankees. 

In Chisholm Jr’s debut match, Boone played him at the center position and allowed him to bat at the fifth one for the Yankees. Also, Aaron Boone didn’t rule out to use Jazz in the lead-off position, which was his primary slot for the Miami Marlins. Furthermore, Boone feels that Verdugo has started to swing his bat after a slump, and Glyber Torres can bat up the order whenever the Yankees face lefties. Deciding on a new position for Chisholm Jr, Boone said, “I want him to start working here. It’s not something he’s played, obviously, came up as a shortstop.”

Reflecting on Boone’s statement, Jazz might be in the third position in the in-field alongside Aaron Judge towards the right and Juan Soto at the left end. However, fitting him in might take some time for the Yankees manager. Gleyber Torres might hit free agency after the 2024 season, and with Chisholm Jr., it will be in 2026 when he can be a free agent. Therefore, if Torres looks for a new club after the 2024 season, Chisholm might find his sweet spot in the second base position permanently in the Yankees lineup. 

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