The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

SATURDAY, June 12 will be another historic day for flamboyant Major League Baseball player Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm as the Miami Marlins honour him with the Bahamian Heritage Celebration.

And Bahamas Baseball Association secretary general Theodore ‘Teddy’ Sweeting said Bahamians will have the opportunity to join in the celebrations at the loanDepot Park when the Marlins take on the Atlanta Braves at 4pm.

Sweeting said the Marlins, having gotten the approval of additional seating in the stadium, will celebrate the Bahamian heritage by honouring Chisholm, who has taken the Miami, Florida area by storm with his bright blue coloured hair and his spectacular performance as a starting infielder at shortstop and second base.

“All the Bahamian fans have to do is click a special Marlins’ link that will allow them to book their tickets for the game and they will receive a t-shirt to be worn at the game,” Sweeting said.

“There will be a celebration after the game and so what we want to do is have as many Bahamians go over and to have those who live in Florida to join them as we celebrate the Bahamian Heritage Day for Jazz Chisholm.”

The National Sports Authority is currently working on the logistics for a package deal for the Bahamian people travelling. Persons can log onto Bahamian Heritage Celebration - BBA offer.fevo.com or Bahamian Heritage Celebration - NSA offer.fevo.com to book their tickets and t-shirts.

The Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture, the Ministry of Tourism, the Bahamas Immigration and Bahamasair are all collaborating in this unique effort that will also include a Miami concert after the game.

Prime Minister Hubert Minnis, along with other government dignitaries, are also being invited to participate in the event.

However, Sweeting said to ensure that Bahamians attending are a part of the celebrations, they must log onto the link provided to get their Bahamian Heritage t-shirt and ticket.

“It’s going to be a very big night,” Sweeting said. “For the t-shirts, it’s first come, first serve. Once the t-shirts are sold out, then the site will advise out of the limited amount of seats available.”

Sweeting said the BBA, headed by president Sam Rodgers Sr, said it’s amazing where they have reached in baseball with Chisholm being a starting member of the Marlins’ roster.

“For years that we have been developing the sport, we have really reached a point where we see a player like Jazz, who came out of the Freedom Farm system and is now playing in the Majors,” Sweeting said.

“The vision is now unfolding and it’s coming to pass. Working with the Marlins, you can see the excitement that they have in this Bahamian prospect in their organisation.”

After getting promoted from Triple A to the Majors last year during the pandemic, Chisholm returned this season as the starting shortstop before he was moved to second base.

He recently suffered an injury that placed him on a 10-day disabled list, but he is back in the Marlins’ starting line-up. He was even one of the players used to model their new uniform that the Marlins will be wearing in their next home game on Friday.

“Jazz has come out into the spotlight and he’s making a tremendous noise in Miami,” Sweeting said. “The jersey with Chisholm’s name on the back was sold out in less than two hours on the Marlins’ website when they released the information.

“This is the level of buzz that Jazz is causing in the Miami area. So I just want us as Bahamians to realise that sports in this country has and is still doing a tremendous job in the recognition of our beautiful country.”

Chisholm, according to Sweeting, is just jazzing it up and with the new baseball stadium coming on stream, there will be a lot of buzz in the Bahamas with regards to the Marlins.

“It’s an exciting time for baseball in the country,” Sweeting said. “Part proceeds from this venture will go to the BBA because we are very much involved in the ticket sales. So we want the Bahamian people to purchase their tickets and their t-shirt for the Bahamian Heritage Celebration on June 11.”

Chisholm, 23, is the latest Bahamian to crack the Major Leagues. He follows in the footsteps of 37-year-old Antoan Richardson, who played with the Braves in 2011 and the New York Yankees in 2014, but upon retirement, is now the first base coach for the San Francisco Giants.

The 37-year-old Richardson was incidentally drafted by the Giants in the 35th round of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft.

They joined five other Bahamians, all deceased, who played in the Majors. They were Andre Rodgers, Tony Curry, Ed Armbrister, Wenty Ford and Wilfred Culmer. Armbrister, known for his controversial bunt, went on to win two World Series titles with the Cincinnati Reds.

Chisholm, who bats left handed, signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an international free agent in July, 2015. On July 31, 2019, the Diamondbacks traded Chisholm to the Marlins for Zac Gallen.

Chisholm was assigned to the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, with whom he finished the year. Over 112 games between Jackson and Jacksonville, Chisholm slashed .220/.321/.441 with 21 home runs, 54 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.

Chisholm was added to the Marlins’ 40–man roster following the 2019 season. He was promoted to the major leagues for the first time on September 1, 2020, and made his defensive debut that night against the Toronto Blue Jays.

Chisholm’s first at-bat was in the following game against Toronto on September 2, 2020.

In 2021, Chisholm made the Marlins out of spring training as the teams starting second baseman.

After suffering a left hamstring strain on April 17, Chisholm was placed on the 10-day disabled list, but reactivated and rejoined the Marlins’ starting line-up on Sunday.

During his rehab stint with Triple-A Jacksonville, Chisholm hit .444, slugged .500 with an .889 OPS, a home run and four RBIs in three games and nine at-bats.

In 22 games this season, Chisholm is hitting .297 with a .917 OPS, slugging .551 with 22 hits, 40 total bases, 12 runs scored, four doubles, one triple, four home runs, seven RBI, and a National League leading eight stolen bases.