The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

JAZZ Chisholm’s meteoric rise in the minor league system continues to be recognised by Major League Baseball and various international media outlets.

Chisholm was recently listed by MLB Pipeline as one of the top 10 shortstop prospects in all of the minor leagues.

The 20-year old Arizona Diamondbacks prospect is listed at No. 8 behind Fernando Tatis Jr (Padres), Royce Lewis (Twins), Brendan Rodgers (Rockies), two-time “Don’t Blink Home Run Derby in Paradise” winner Bo Bichette (Blue Jays), Wander Franco (Rays), Carter Kieboom (Nationals), Andres Gimenez (Mets) and ahead of Gavin Lux (Dodgers) and Luis Garcia (Nationals).

MLB.com’s Jim Callis listed Chisholm as the player from the most humble beginnings.

“While the other nine shortstops on this list averaged $2.74 million in bonuses, Chisholm signed for a mere $200,000 out of the Bahamas in 2015. Injured for much of his first year in full-season ball in ‘17, he smacked 25 homers to top all Minor League shortstops in his second.”

They also projected Chisholm to advance to the majors by 2020.

MLB Pipeline will unveil its 2019 Top 100 Prospects list with a one-hour show on MLB Network and MLB.com 8pm on Saturday.

Baseball America has already projected Chisholm as the No.1 prospect in the Diamondbacks organisation.

SB Nation also profiled Chisholm as one of the hidden prospect gems of the California League last season, while MLB Pipeline profiled the relationship between he and Lucius Fox, the Tampa Bay Rays No.9 prospect, on their rise to the majors.

“I’m definitely going to be the next big leaguer from the Bahamas,” Chisholm, told MLB.com.

“No question,” he added.

The newest signee to RocNation Sports, Chisholm’s season of accolades followed an injury shortened 2017. The 20-year-old shortstop had a postseason of accolades recognised twice by the Diamondbacks as its Minor League Player of the Year and named an organisational All-Star. He spent the season between the Single-A Kane County Cougars and the Single-A Advanced Visalia Rawhide.

On the season between two clubs, he hit .272 (124-for-456)/.329 OBP/.513 SLG with 23 doubles, six triples, 25 home runs, 70 RBI, 39 walks, 17 stolen bases and 79 runs scored in 112 games

A Midwest League midseason All-Star, Chisholm led all D-backs farm system players in home runs, and ranked among the leaders in runs (3rd), triples (T-5th), RBI (7th), slugging pct. (8th) and walks (T-9th). He then went on the Salt River Rafters of the Arizona Fall League. In 11 games, Chisholm, 20, hit .442 for Salt River with a .489 OBP, an 1.257 OPS in 11 games. Chisholm had 19 hits, including one triple, three doubles, three home runs, collected nine RBIs, seven stolen bases and 12 runs scored.

The Arizona Fall League attracts many of the top prospects in the minor leagues. Late in the minor league seasons, MLB clubs hold a position draft to determine the players who will participate in the AFL. Most are Double-A and Triple-A players. The league is designed for these prospects to refine their skills and perform in game settings in front of major and minor league baseball scouts and team executives, who are in attendance at almost every game.

The league featured 17 players on MLB Pipeline’s Top 100 Prospects list, 10 in the Top 50. Overall, there were more than 80 members of the respective teams top 30 lists participated in the six-week league.