Jazz Chisholm of the Miami Marlins has stirred up a storm with his recent comments targeting a former teammate and the team’s clubhouse culture during his initial years with the club.
In a candid interview, Chisholm did not mince words, asserting that a “team captain,” widely speculated to be Miguel Rojas, had a negative influence on young players.
“Not a good person… bringing down the young guys who are supposed to be good,” Chisholm said on The Pivot podcast.
Jazz Chisholm didn’t hold back in this interview, which honestly, was kinda awesome.
Don’t be the grumpy vet. Baseball is supposed to be fun. It seems the unnamed vet was Miguel Rojas. pic.twitter.com/TlSSDAxzhx
— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) March 20, 2024
Rojas, now a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers, responded to Chisholm’s remarks on “The Chris Rose Rotation,” expressing his disappointment at being labeled negatively.
“Everybody’s entitled to have their own opinion,” Rojas said. “Whatever you have to say about me as a player, you can have that opinion. But you saying that I’m a bad person when you don’t even know me, that’s kinda what bothers me.”
Miguel Rojas responds Jazz Chisholm’s comments criticizing his treatment of younger players.
“When you come to a place… there are people there that have been there before you. There’s rules in place and someone is gonna keep you accountable”
pic.twitter.com/FXz9q3nhQ4— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 26, 2024
“I’m not expecting everybody to like me, and I don’t like everybody, but that doesn’t mean that I can go out there and tell everybody what’s happening in the clubhouse,” Rojas continued.
“As a professional, you have to understand that you have to respect everybody that is in that clubhouse.”
“When you come to a place and you get to a new place, there are people there that have been there before you. There’s rules in place, and someone is gonna keep you accountable.”
OUT NOW! Miguel Rojas responds to Jazz Chisholm’s comments
WATCH: https://t.co/krOzVGivb2
LISTEN: https://t.co/E4SPSaHbUm pic.twitter.com/GTer02dEwZ— Chris Rose Sports (@ChrisRoseSports) March 26, 2024
The altercation between Chisholm and Rojas sheds light on underlying tensions within the Marlins clubhouse, with Chisholm’s flashy style and appearance drawing criticism from veteran players.
Chisholm recounted a team meeting in 2022, where his unorthodox style became a point of contention among his teammates.
“They wanted to put me in a box, and it wasn’t happening,” Chisholm said about players he didn’t hang out with off the field. “‘The way he dresses coming to the field.’ ‘Oh he wears four chains on the field.’ ‘He doesn’t wear dress shoes on the team plane.'”
"One day make me want your autograph, kid." – Michael Jordan
This Jazz Chisholm story about meeting MJ is awesome 🙌
Full episode here: https://t.co/B0Bw6xnbHC pic.twitter.com/a2RkB2iJG1
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 6, 2023
Amidst the turmoil, Chisholm commended manager Skip Schumaker for instigating a positive change in the clubhouse atmosphere.
Jazz Chisholm Jr is having himself an Opening Day!
He’s got a double, two runs, a walk and this awesome diving catch!
Will we finally get a full season of Jazz dazzling like this? pic.twitter.com/s9UaehD3l2
— Just Baseball (@JustBB_Media) March 28, 2024
Whose side are you on?
Was the old-school Rojas right to take the “earn your stripes” approach with Chisholm?
Either way, was Chisholm out of line to “speak out of school” on the issues publicly???