WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — Most Yankees will take away memories from their first foray into the Little League Classic.
Jazz Chisholm Jr. will take away a “little brother.”
Upon landing in Williamsport on Sunday, the Yankees infielder boarded the club’s shuttle bus and took a seat next to Russell McGee, who is competing with Henderson, Nev., in the Little League World Series and who listed Chisholm as his favorite player for his TV graphic.
The two got to talking. And kept talking. And will keep talking.
“He reminded me so much of myself when I was younger,” Chisholm, out with an elbow injury, said as the Yankees fell, 3-2, in 10 innings to the Tigers at Bowman Field. “He’s just a kid that enjoys being around the game.”
Chisholm thought back to his early conversations with baseball mentors such as CC Sabathia, Dom Smith and J.P. Crawford, all of whom he struck relationships with as he broke into MLB.
Those three “made me their little brother,” Chisholm said, and looked out for him, always picking up the phone when he called.
Now it’s the 26-year-old Chisholm’s turn. He talked with Russell, with whom he instantly connected. Chisholm heard how Russell tries to emulate parts of his game.
“When it hits your heart,” Chisholm said, “there’s nothing else you can do but follow your heart.”
Here is what else you can do: Exchange numbers with Russell; get to texting each other; follow him back on Instagram; sit with him during the Yankees game. Chisholm did all of that.
He and Russell enjoyed a wild few innings together, with Chisholm cheering on his teammates from the bleachers and inspiring a roll call — one in which Anthony Volpe borrowed Chisholm’s step-back jumper as recognition.
“It was just a lot of fun. Acting like a kid, screaming at the guy on deck,” said Chisholm, who has fit in well with the Yankees. “It was just reminding me of days of me when I was in Little League and meeting the guys I’ve met in my life and the way they took care of me.”
It was one incredible day, but Chisholm said it will be the first of many. Russell will be at a player development camp that Chisholm hosts in Los Angeles in November, Chisholm said.
If they don’t see each other in person before then, they will meet again in three months.
“That’s officially my little brother,” Chisholm said.
