Jazz Chisholm is poised for a strong finish this year

Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been one of the few good things for the Marlins in the second half of the season. Fortunately, he left his July struggles behind and has been much better in August, with notable offensive improvements that can set the table for the next campaign as the Marlins’ everyday second baseman.

In 16 games in July, Chisholm owned a .232/.295/.375 slash line and struck out 17 times in 16 games. But that has changed in the current month: .275/.321/.471 in 15 contests (14-for-51), with one double, three home runs, nine runs batted in, 10 scored runs, three walks, and only 10 strikeouts. Ironically, his good performance came in what’s been a nightmare month for Miami collectively, with a 7-14 record.

Here are some major contrasts between Chisholm’s July and August:

• K%: 27.4 in July | 17.9 in August
• Average exit velocity: 89.4 MPH in July | 92.1 MPH in August
• OPS: .670 in July | .792 in August
• Contact%: 68.2 in July | 77.7 in August
• SwStr%: 14.7 in July | 11.0 in August

Chisholm has had six multi-hit games during this month, the second-best mark for him this year, only one shy of what he achieved in June (7).

A strong finish in August and September not only would help the 23-year-old rin the National League Rookie of the Year award race, but also remove any doubt that he can trusted as the second baseman for the Marlins entering 2022.

Chisholm especially enjoys batting second in the lineup. He’s occupied that spot 10 times in 2021, recording 13 hits in 38 at-bats, with one double and three home runs, along with nine ribbies, nine runs, two steals, and two free passes. All of this is summed up by a .342/.381/.605 slash line. In the leadoff spot, those averages go down to .231/.281/.370 with 74 strikeouts in 54 games.

Another split stat that the Marlins can take advantage of is how good he’s been with runners in scoring position. In that scenario, Chisholm owns a .288/.364/.561 line (19-for-66) with six four-baggers, 34 runs batted in, and a .924 OPS. Using Jazz in the second spot more often—typically right behind the steady Miguel Rojas—increases the likelihood that there will be runners on board for him.

Whatever happens during the rest of the regular season, Jazz Chisholm is among the few players on the active roster whose future definitely seems to be with the Marlins.