Jazz Chisholm, Jr. Claims MLB Rules Unclear in his Appeal

Jazz Chisholm Jr. is pushing back against Major League Baseball after being handed a one-game suspension for a profanity-laced tweet directed at umpire John Bacon following his ejection Thursday night.

The New York Yankees second baseman confirmed Saturday that he’s appealing the discipline, arguing that there was some ambiguity to the rule. “There’s a gray area,” Chisholm told reporters before Saturday’s game. “I’m not in the game. I’m not technically part of the game after that (ejection).”

Chisholm’s tweet, which was deleted, came after he was tossed in the seventh inning for disputing a called third strike. The league promptly issued a one-game suspension, citing illegal use of electronics during a game and inappropriate comments directed toward game officials.

The appeal allows Chisholm to remain active while MLB reviews the case. He told NJ.com his appeal hearing is Thursday.

Chisholm, who is batting .160 with six home runs this season, was ejected in the seventh inning of Thursday’s 6-3 win over the Tampa Bay Rays after disputing a called third strike. The pitch, a full-count fastball from Rays reliever Mason Montgomery, appeared low, leading Chisholm to express his disagreement with home plate umpire John Bacon.

Following his ejection, Chisholm took to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice his frustration, posting a message that included an expletive criticizing the call. The post was later deleted, but not before it was widely circulated.

MLB prohibits using electronic devices during games and has strict policies against public criticism of umpires.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone commented on the incident, expressing a preference to shield his players from such situations, saying, “I’d like to be the one going there. I don’t love our players going, but I also understand how difficult that is to lay off a tough 3-2 pitch there.”

This incident marked Chisholm’s first ejection as a Yankee and the team’s first of the season.

It was the second time this week Bacon was in the news. On April 13, Bacon was involved in another controversial ejection.

He tossed Orioles manager Brandon Hyde after a disputed strike call against batter Jordan Westburg.