Chisholm and Rojas Clash: Old School Culture Sparks Controversy

ARLINGTON, Texas — Tensions flared this Opening Day as New York Yankees star Jazz Chisholm Jr. made pointed remarks regarding former Miami Marlins teammate Miguel Rojas, igniting a firestorm of responses. Chisholm, in an interview, claimed Rojas fostered an outdated clubhouse culture that he believed impacted him negatively, including an incident involving custom cleats for his MLB debut.

Chisholm alleged that Rojas intentionally damaged his cleats, stating, “Nobody would ever cut up my cleats or throw my things away if I were White.” His comments reflect broader frustrations about perceived racial inequalities within professional baseball. “If a White boy goes and complains, now everybody’s f—ed. I go and complain and it’s not that big of a deal,” he added.

Rojas responded to Chisholm’s remarks during a pre-game interview with The Athletic, expressing disbelief at the assertion that old-school baseball rules stem from racial bias. “It’s really uncomfortable saying that these rules are written by White people,” said Rojas, who is Venezuelan. “I’m coming from a place where it’s as diverse as anything in the world, it’s Latin America. I want to continue to learn all the cultures.”

An anonymous source familiar with the Marlins’ clubhouse during Chisholm’s tenure described Rojas’ actions as “childish,” suggesting a pattern of behavior that warranted a 90-minute team meeting led by then-manager Don Mattingly in 2022.

During Thursday’s home opener against the Detroit Tigers, Rojas reiterated that he does not need to defend himself regarding past conflicts, focusing instead on his current role with the Dodgers and his professional conduct. “There are people who are going to air out what’s happening in a clubhouse, and I’m not really going to talk about it,” he said. “I know who I am, and people who really know me, they know who I am.”

Interestingly, this isn’t the first time Chisholm and Rojas have had public disagreements since Rojas was traded to the Dodgers ahead of the 2023 season. Last year, Chisholm rehashed his difficult experiences in Miami, calling it the worst three years of his life and alluding to Rojas’ leadership style.

Rojas, addressing Chisholm’s past remarks on a podcast, stated, “It’s really easy to go out there and talk to look good, but I don’t need to do that. I do it with the way I prepare and the way I play.” Despite the tension, he confirmed there are no plans to reach out to Chisholm.

As Major League Baseball kicks off its 2025 season, all eyes are on the unfolding drama between these two players, underscoring the complexities of culture and race relations within America’s pastime.