Culminating the first-ever Bahamian Heritage experience at a Major League Baseball (MLB) park, Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr. was electrifying as usual, helping the Miami Marlins win their second straight series, taking two out of three against their division rival, the Atlanta Braves, over the weekend.
On Friday, Chisholm and the Marlins prevailed 4-3 at LoanDepot Park, in Miami, Florida. They came back on Saturday, on Bahamian Heritage Night, and won 4-2, before falling 6-4 yesterday.
In the three-game series, Bahamian professional player Chisholm batted 3-for-11 with two RBIs (runs batted in), one extra-base hit and two runs scored. Chisholm drove in the game-winning runs on Friday, set the tone by scoring the first run of the game on Saturday, and had another hit and scored another run on Sunday, but watched as their rally fell short in their attempt to sweep the Braves.
In the National League East Division, Chisholm and the Marlins have a 29-36 win/loss record and sit in fourth – seven games behind the front-running New York Mets (32-25).
Chisholm is now batting .278 on the season, going 44-for-158 with eight home runs, 22 RBIs and 24 runs scored. He has a slash line of .278/.347/.487, nine stolen bases and an on-base, plus slugging percentage (OPS) of .834.
Chisholm remains in contention for the National League Rookie of the Year Award, according to Score Media and Gaming (theScore), a digital media company based in Toronto, Canada.
As for Bahamian Heritage Night in Miami, it is estimated that about 2,000 Bahamian fans took advantage of the special rates offered by Bahamasair in conjunction with the Marlins in promotion of Bahamian talent and culture to a global television audience on Saturday. A Bahamian Heritage ticket package was available, that included reduced airline and game tickets, an exclusive Bahamian Heritage T-shirt, and participants were treated to a postgame concert on the West Plaza of the stadium featuring the Bahamian steel band Delight. Junkanoo music was also a huge part of the celebration on Saturday.
The Marlins joined the nation in celebrating Bahamian culture as part of Caribbean-American Heritage Month at Saturday’s game.
Minister of Youth, Sports and Culture Iram Lewis threw out the first pitch of Saturday’s game, Julien Believe sang The Bahamas’ National Anthem, Bahamian cuisine was on sale, and The Bahamas’ National Flag was on display around the stadium and on the jumbo screens during the playing of the national anthem and at various points of the game.
“I felt it was important that the government of The Bahamas and I, myself, as the minister with responsibility for sports, have a presence there, particularly since our very own 23-year-old Jasrado “Jazz” Chisholm Jr., shortstop for the Miami Marlins, was being recognized and celebrated at that historic Bahamian heritage night,” said Minister Lewis.
The minister said he was able to meet with Marlins Chief Operating Officer (COO) Caroline O’Conner, Vice President of Public Affairs for the Marlins Alfredo Mesa, and Group Sales Executive for the Marlins Brad Johnson while in Miami to discuss the possibility of Spring Training games being held in Nassau.
“The growth of sports tourism has long since been the plan of my government,” said Lewis. “I, representing our country, presented ‘Jazz’ with a Bahamian flag, which represented an entire nation that was proud of his achievements. It is evident that the ministry looks forward to continuing to promote sports tourism in The Bahamas as construction and renovations on the major facilities continue.”
A small Junkanoo contingent, The Bahamas Junkanoo Revue out of Miami, paraded through the stadium before and after the game.
Lewis, himself a former athlete who competed in both the 1996 and 2000 Summer Olympic Games, thanked Miami-Dade County, the Marlins organization and all who were a part of making the festive night in celebration of Chisholm and Bahamian culture come to fruition. The event was held in collaboration with the Marlins, the Bahamian Baseball Association (BBA), the National Sports Authority (NSA), the Bahamas Consulate General (Miami) Office, the Bahamas Ministry of Tourism & Aviation, the Bahamas Olympic Committee (BOC) and Bahamasair.
“They didn’t have do this but, of course, they are doing it and they are celebrating the Bahamian heritage along with us,” Lewis said. “Jazz’ has shown that he works hard; he is very well-mannered. He’s disciplined. As long as he stays healthy, he’s going to be a superstar.”
The Bahamian is already on the right path for superstardom, awing baseball fans across America with his spectacular play and taking the league by storm in his first full year with the Marlins. He is already a star rookie infielder for the Marlins. Lewis said he hopes that Chisholm serves as an inspiration for the country’s youth and shows “how you can make it in life if you’re disciplined”.
A portion of the proceeds from each ticket on Saturday will benefit the BBA.
Chisholm, 23, is the seventh Bahamian to break through to the majors, called up to the Marlins a year ago. He has started 24 games at second base for the Marlins this season, and 17 at shortstop. The Bahamian has a .970 fielding percentage at second base and a .957 percentage at shortstop in 170 total chances.
Chisholm is the first Bahamian to play with the Marlins, and as mentioned, the seventh to play in the majors, joining Andre Rodgers who was the pacesetter with the New York Giants, now San Francisco Giants, in 1957; Anthony “Tony” Curry with the Phillies in 1960; two-time World Series Champion Ed Armbrister with the Cincinnati Reds in 1973; Wenty Ford with the Atlanta Braves in 1973; Wilfred “Sudgy” Culmer with the Cleveland Indians in 1983; and Antoan Richardson with the Atlanta Braves in 2011.
Chisholm and the Marlins travel to St. Louis, Missouri, to play the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium for three games from Monday to Wednesday. They’re off on Thursday and then travel to Chicago to face the Chicago Cubs in three games this weekend.
The post Chisholm’s Bahamian heritage celebrated in Miami appeared first on The Nassau Guardian.
source https://thenassauguardian.com/chisholms-bahamian-heritage-celebrated-in-miami/
No comments:
Post a Comment