Jun 10, 2025; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) throws the ball to first base in the second inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.
New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been on an undeniable hot streak since his return from a month-long injury layoff. However, his recent on-field actions prove he’s also packing a fiery temper, reigniting a simmering rivalry that just exploded into a direct verbal threat.
The latest flashpoint occurred during the sixth inning of the Yankees’ game against the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. Chisholm Jr. successfully stole third base, but in Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia’s frantic, unsuccessful attempt to catch the ball and apply the tag, he inadvertently knocked off Chisholm’s helmet. What followed was a highly charged exchange of words between Chisholm Jr. and Royals coach Luis Rojas, a moment vividly caught on the television broadcast.
“I’m going to tell you one more time — if he tags me like that one more time, I’m going to smack the f— out of him,” Chisholm Jr. was heard stating unequivocally.
Despite the Yankees securing a decisive 10-2 victory, Garcia appeared unfazed by Chisholm’s threat when asked about the incident after the game. “I’m waiting for it,” Garcia retorted, dismissing it as “It’s just talk.”
This bad blood between the two prominent infielders is far from new, dating back to last season. Chisholm Jr. infamously described the Royals’ Game 2 American League Division Series win as “lucky.” He then escalated the tension by accusing Garcia of attempting to intentionally injure Yankees star Anthony Volpe, publicly labeling Garcia a “sore loser.” The Yankees ultimately prevailed in that Division Series before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2024 World Series.
Reflecting on Tuesday’s incident and their history, Chisholm Jr. explained his frustration after the game: “I just feel like, every time we have a problem, it’s always been him. That’s the only reason why I was so frustrated.“
This isn’t the first instance where Chisholm Jr. has found himself in the spotlight for unvarnished comments. Just last week, during the Yankees’ home series against the Boston Red Sox, Chisholm committed an error while notably conducting a live interview, exclaiming “Damn it!” on air. In that same series, Chisholm Jr. publicly fired back at Red Sox rookie Hunter Dobbins, who had controversially stated he’d rather retire than play for the Yankees.
Chisholm Jr. took to X (formerly Twitter) to amplify his stance on baseball’s unwritten rules, declaring: “I think there should be more trash talk in baseball!!! Anyone agrees!? Anyway free smoke at 7.” His latest confrontation with Garcia only adds fuel to an already intense rivalry, promising more fireworks when these two teams meet again.