Jazz Chisholm Jr. Sparks Controversy with Former Teammate Miguel Rojas

NEW YORK, NY – Controversy has erupted in Major League Baseball after New York Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. made pointed comments about former Miami Marlins teammate Miguel Rojas. In an interview published on Wednesday, Chisholm accused Rojas of fostering an ‘old-school culture’ that included disrespectful behavior towards him during their time together on the Marlins.

Chisholm specifically recalled incidents from 2020, including Rojas cutting up and pouring milk into custom cleats that the young player had designed for his major league debut. Chisholm suggested this behavior represented a broader pattern and implied racial bias. “Nobody would ever cut up my cleats or throw my things away if I were White,” Chisholm said. “I’ll tell you right now, if this was a White boy’s stuff, you weren’t gonna cut that s— up,” he asserted.

Rojas, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, quickly responded to Chisholm’s remarks during a press conference, saying, “I don’t need to defend myself, to be honest.” Rojas, who is Venezuelan, expressed discomfort with the implications of Chisholm’s comments. “It’s really uncomfortable saying that these rules, the old-school rules, are written by White people,” Rojas stated. “I don’t really understand, because I’m coming from a place where it’s as diverse as anything in the world, it’s Latin America.”

According to anonymous sources who were present in the Marlins’ clubhouse that year, Rojas was perceived as a team leader and his actions may have been seen as childish by some. In fact, a 90-minute team meeting was held by then-manager Don Mattingly in 2022 to address ongoing issues within the team, hinting at significant tensions.

Chisholm did not shy away from discussing the experience of playing with the Marlins in his interview, calling it “the worst three years of probably my life.” He has also criticized the organization in the past, particularly the way Rojas was allowed to maintain a leadership role, despite the challenges some players faced when he was in charge.

As for his thoughts on Chisholm’s recent remarks, Rojas stated, “I’m really happy where I’m at. My career has been taking off after I’m 35 years old. I’ve been in the league for 12 years. The only thing I can talk is about me, because I don’t know others.” Rojas confirmed that he has no plans to engage directly with Chisholm after their past experiences.

This incident has sparked dialogue in the baseball community about race, respect, and the culture within clubhouses. As the conversation evolves, it remains to be seen whether Chisholm will further address the issue or if the two players can move forward without further conflict.