“Ohtani also has 2 MVPs behind him so that’s irrelevant” - Jazz Chisholm Jr. calls out Stephen A. Smith for crediting Soto in Judge’s success

It’s been a little over a month since Jazz Chisholm Jr. came to New York from Miami. However, his support for the Yankees both on and off the field is very commendable.

Not only does Chisholm Jr. make himself a dependable infielder for the team, but also a valuable team player, making sure to always have his teammates’ backs.

On the latest edition of First Take by MLB Network, hosts Stephen A. Smith and Chris 'Mad Dog' Russo discussed the news from around the league, including Aaron Judge’s hot season.

A New York Yankees slugger, Judge is one of the prominent candidates for this year’s AL MVP title, and postseason participation will only make his resume stronger. However, Smith credited fellow Yankees outfielder, Juan Soto, for Judge’s success.

“You got Juan Soto backing up behind you. They can’t get around a little bit. So, I mean, they gonna pitch to the brother. You got Soto waiting in the wings. So all of these facilitate Aaron Judge being who he is,” Smith said.

There is no doubt that the Judge-Soto pair is formidable. Judge, with a slashline of .333/.467/.731 and an OPS of 1.198, has scored 123 RBIs, 104 runs and 51 home runs.

Meanwhile, Soto has 108 runs, 37 home runs and 95 RBIs with a stat line of .291/.421/.590 and an OPS of 1.012. However, Smith believes that because of Soto, pitchers were forced to take Judge.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. called out Smith for his take on Soto’s contribution to Judge’s season, comparing it with LA Dodgers All-Star Shohei Ohtani’s MVP wins.

“Ohtani also has 2 MVPs behind him so that’s irrelevant sir!!” Chisholm Jr. commented.

The Yankees lead the AL East division and the AL overall with a 78-54 season record.

How good is Jazz Chisholm Jr. for the Yankees?

The Yankees remained silent most of the time during the trade deadline. However, Jazz Chisholm Jr. became their best trade acquisition as they finally addressed their infield instability.

Chisholm Jr., who was a utility player for the Miami Marlins infield and outfield, became the everyday third baseman for the Bombers, playing 19 games. He has 14 RBIs, nine home runs, and 16 runs with a stat line of .304/345/.684 with an OPS of 1.029 in 20 games.

With two arbitration years still left, Chisholm Jr. can earn himself a hefty long-term extension from the New York front office. If he can break the organization’s decade-old World Series drought this season, it’ll only raise his value for future negotiations.