The Tribune

By RENALDO DORSETT

Tribune Sports Reporter

rdorsett@tribunemedia.net

IF the Miami Marlins’ Spring Training play will determine position battles, Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm made an early case for the starting job at second base.

Chisholm homered in the first at bat of the Grapefruit League and helped lead the Marlins to a 6-1 win over the Houston Astros at BallPark of Palm Beach in West Palm Beach, Florida.

The Marlins’ No.4 prospect, Chisholm got the start at shortstop and hit leadoff. On the second pitch from Astros starter Brandon Bielak, he hit a solo shot to the opposite field.

Defensively, Chisholm, Isan Diaz and Garrett Cooper turned a “6-4-3” double play to end the third inning. “It felt great to start off with a bang. Glad to see it showed from the first at bat,” he told the Miami Herald. “Honestly, I told everybody today that I was coming in today to hit an oppo bomb.”

Chisholm and other starters left the game after the fourth inning.

Marlins’ General Manager Kim Ng said performance in Spring Training emerging from the open competition between Chisholm, Diaz and Jon Berti, will determine who wins the starting nod headed into the 2021 season.

Berti started Sunday’s game at third base and went 2-2 while Diaz went 0-2.

“I think right now our mindset is we have that candidate in house with Isan Diaz, Jazz Chisholm, as well as Jon Berti who did a nice job for us last year,” Ng said in the offseason.

“I think between the three of them I think the answer is in house and I think we’re one of the fortunate clubs to have internal candidates.”

The Marlins will continue play in the Grapefruit League when they host the New York Mets 1:05pm Tuesday at Roger Dean Chevrolet Stadium in Jupiter, Florida.

In 21 games last season, Chisholm hit .161 with a .563 OPS a .242 OBP, nine hits, two home runs, nine runs, six RBI, and two stolen bases.

In his debut MLB season, the 23-year-old infielder started 17 games, 11 at second base.

Diaz, 24, was projected to be the Marlins starter at the position prior to the 2020 season, but opted out due to his concerns on playing amid the pandemic. He later opted back in and re-joined the club in September as they made a playoff push. He suffered a groin injury just five games into his return that officially brought an end to his year. Through seven games he hit .182 average with one RBI and three runs scored.

Berti, the 31-year-old veteran utility player of the group, assumed the starting role at second base last season after the Marlins traded away Jonathan Villar in August. He played in 39 of the 60 regular season games because of a finger injury in September. He hit .258 with two home runs, 14 RBI, a .79 OPS and nine stolen bases.