Jazz Chisholm Jr. learned the hard way why some players avoid ESPN’s mic’d up interviews during games. The Yankees third baseman made an errant throw while answering questions on Sunday Night Baseball, turning what should’ve been a routine play into an awkward moment against the Red Sox.
The timing couldn’t have been worse. Chisholm was discussing comments from Red Sox rookie Hunter Dobbins, who said he’d rather retire than play for the Yankees, when he attempted a spin throw to nail Ceddanne Rafaela at first base.
Instead, the ball sailed wide and pulled Paul Goldschmidt off the bag, allowing Rafaela to cruise into second.
“Spin throw. … A hit and an error.”
Jazz Chisholm Jr. tried it while on the mic pic.twitter.com/ybxiFiz79u
— ESPN (@espn) June 8, 2025
Give Chisholm credit – he handled it well. When Karl Ravech mentioned the official scorer ruled it a hit for Rafaela, Chisholm quickly corrected him: “Hit and an error.” He was right. Rafaela got the hit, but Chisholm earned the error for letting him advance to second.
The former Marlins standout kept his cool and finished answering the question. The Yankees escaped the inning without damage, but the moment highlighted exactly why some players steer clear of in-game interviews.
It’s worth noting that Chisholm just returned Tuesday from a month on the injured list with an oblique strain. Manager Aaron Boone probably wasn’t thrilled to see his newly healthy infielder attempting aggressive spin throws while wearing a microphone, but Chisholm looked fine physically.
Growing Interview Reluctance
Chisholm’s mishap adds fuel to the debate about ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball interviews. Some players are already avoiding the mic. Juan Soto declined to participate during a May series, dodging questions about his move to the crosstown Mets and his early-season struggles.
The way I see it, Chisholm’s willingness to do the interview shows his comfort level with media attention. He’s been one of the more engaging personalities since joining the Yankees, and this won’t change that.
But it does give other players another reason to say no when ESPN comes calling. Nothing like making an error on national television while trying to answer questions about your opponent’s trash talk.
