The Yankees better hope Jazz Chisholm Jr. is better at making team predictions than individual projections.
The struggling second baseman, who is is 44 homers and 36 steals off his 50-50 goal for the season, told Jimmy Fallon during Monday’s show that the Yankees “for sure” are going to win the 2026 World Series.
“I mean, to win a World Series, we’re in New York,” Chisholm said after being asked about the “ultimate” goal for the 2026 season by the NBC host.
When Fallon followed with, “Are we going to do it?” Chisholm retorted: “Oh, for sure.”
Whether the Yankees can win a World Series will be influenced to some degree by whether Chisholm starts producing to his normal career numbers in what has been a disappointing year for the infielder.
Chisholm made headlines in camp by saying that his goal for the 2026 season would be to become the second person in the 50-50 club alongside perhaps the greatest player ever in Shoehi Ohtani.
“Why not shoot for the stars and land on the moon?” Chisholm told Netflix during the Opening Day broadcast. “I felt like every time I shoot low I end up low.”
Suffice to say, barring a heater for the ages, Chisholm needs to change those goals and perhaps shoot for a homer barrage that can allow for a 30-30 season.
Chisholm is slashing just .239/.314/.385 with six homers, 20 RBIs and 14 steals, with his .700 OPS marking his lowest for any of his full seasons in the minors.
His struggles have factored into why the Yankees’ offense goes through dormant stretches since it’s a top-heavy lineup that lacks depth.
There is a dramatic drop off after Ben Rice, Aaron Judge and Cody Bellinger, with Chisholm not playing to his standards and Austin Wells and Ryan McMahon struggling.
Add in Trent Grisham’s underwhelming start, and the Yankees too often have to hope that one of the big three has a monster game to consistently score runs.
Chisholm’s struggles are also coming at an inopportune personal time since he’s a free agent, and it will be a hard sell this offseason to ask teams for $150-million plus if he finishes with a .700 OPS.
The 28-year-old did say earlier this year, though, that he plays better in warmer weather and perhaps that will allow him to heat up just in time to both make a better push toward that 50-50 mark and perhaps end the Yankees’ nearly two-decade drought without a championship.
