Jazz Chisholm Jr. is one of baseball’s most captivating talents. On the field, Chisholm is a tour de force, pairing impressive slugging traits with strong fielding and speed on the bags to become one of the Yankees’ most important players.
Off of it, Chisholm is a headliner. He’s one of MLB’s brightest personalities, letting his love of the sport shine through.
Chisholm has used his skillset — and his bubbly persona — to climb up the league’s hierarchy. He’s a two-time All-Star. More could be on the horizon if he keeps his performances up.
But just who helped lift Chisholm to big-league acclaim? And what role did his family, including his grandmother, help in aiding his development? Here’s what you need to know.
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Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s grandma: Patricia Coakley
Chisholm wasn’t the only person in his family who felt a special affinity for the bat. His grandmother, Patricia Coakley, has embraced Chisholm’s profession since before he was born. She was once a star shortstop for the Bahamian national softball team. She also plied her trade for several amateur sides across the country, spending more than 30 years on the diamond.
Coakley was more Andrelton Simmons than Corey Seager, a slick fielder known for doing the little things right in the field and on the basepaths. Chisholm still remembers the first time he saw Coakley dart around the bags.
“It was a wow moment,” Chisholm told Sports Illustrated in 2021. “I was like, I want to do that too.”
Chisholm credited Coakley with spurring his development on the diamond. She started a camp for baseball-crazed youngsters in the Bahamas and coached Chisholm’s church team, even inserting him into shortstop as a 14-year-old. Her decision was an inspired one, as Chisholm is a multiple-time All-Star, with his infield exploits drawing rave reviews as of late.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s dad: Jasrado Chisholm Sr.
Chisholm’s father is Jasrado Chisholm Sr. Not much is known about the elder Chisholm, but his influence on his son’s life is scrawled across Chisholm’s name, one of MLB’s most iconic.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s mom: Martinique Coakley
Chisholm’s mother is Martinique Coakley. She, too, witnessed Chisholm’s baseball acumen from a young age. She told The Athletic that she still remembers Chisholm declaring he would be a big leaguer as a 3-year-old.
Martinique Coakley was in attendance for Chisholm’s first professional game as a minor leaguer. She’s been by his side in the years since, too.
Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s ‘little brother’: Russell McGee
Chisholm is one of MLB’s most ebullient personalities. He made that especially clear in 2024 when he formed a relationship with little leaguer Russell McGee. The Henderson, Nev., native was one of the tournament’s most talked-about talents, enjoying a starring role with Paseo Verde. Among his most notable attributes was his support of Chisholm, as McGee modeled his game after the former Marlins standout. From his jersey number (No. 2, Chisholm’s old number with Miami) to his jewelry (McGee took to the plate in a glitzy chain), Chisholm’s influence on the youngster was easy to see.
So, Chisholm reached out to him. New York’s duel with Detroit in the Little League Classic offered him the perfect opportunity to kick it with McGee.
After exchanging pleasantries earlier in the series, Chisholm and McGee spun tales of their past during a 20-minute bus ride. From that point, their relationship was cemented.
“I’m going to be your big brother from here on,” Chisholm said to McGee, per The Athletic. “… I’ve got you; just give me a call.”
“He’s just a bright-eyed kid,” Chisholm added. “He reminded me so much of myself when I was younger when I first got into professional baseball.”
What is Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s real name?
While Jazz Chisholm certainly rolls off the tongue, that’s not actually his birth name. Chisholm’s full name is Jasrado Prince Hermis Arrington Chisholm Jr.
Chisholm’s sobriquet — Jazz — has proved a natural tag. He’s had the byname since he was a youngster, a simple shortening of his first name. Nonetheless, it’s apt given his play style — he’s a speedster by day, a slugger by night, and a slick fielder, particularly at second.
Where is Jazz Chisholm Jr. from?
Chisholm hails from Nassau, the capital city of the Bahamas. The metropolis has a population of 296,522, nearly 75 percent of the country’s population.
Despite its fairly meager size, the city has housed many big league talents past and present, including Wenty Ford, Ed Ambrister, and Lucius Fox.