BOONE SHOCKS: Why He Refused to Bench Jazz Chisholm Jr. vs. Marlins After Baserunning Gaffe.vc

BRONX, NY — New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone shocked fans by publicly refusing to bench Jazz Chisholm Jr. after the second baseman committed a glaring, high-profile baserunning mistake during a game against his former team, the Miami Marlins, in August 2025.

The refusal ignited a firestorm in the Bronx, as fans and analysts demanded accountability for the mental lapse. Boone, however, defended his decision with a powerful statement on trust and effort that offered a rare glimpse into his philosophy on managing superstars.

The Mental Gaffe

The controversy stemmed from a seemingly inexcusable play during a close 2-0 loss to the Marlins:

• Chisholm, on first base, was doubled off after his teammate hit a pop-up to second.
• Chisholm admitted he was caught too far off the bag because he thought the Marlins second baseman, Xavier Edwards, was “deking” (faking an intentional drop) to get the lead runner. He was simply too aggressive and got burned.

Given the Yankees’ mid-season struggles and the growing perception that players weren’t being held accountable for poor play, many expected Boone to send a message by benching the All-Star.

Boone’s Shocking Defense: “Not Dogging It”

Boone stood by Chisholm, explaining that while the play was definitively “bad,” it was not a symptom of low effort or indifference. Instead, it was an aggressive mistake made by a player trying to win.

“No, it’s a guy trying to make a play,” Boone said when asked if he would bench Chisholm. “I get that it looks bad and it’s a bad play, but this is not a case of a guy that’s dogging it. He’s just trying to make a play, and just because it’s going bad right now and the world’s on fire, I’m not just going to take guys out for giving a crap.”

Chisholm, who went on to finish the season as a 30-30 player and win a Silver Slugger Award, backed up his manager’s assessment, confirming his aggression was the issue: “Sometimes you get aggressive and you get caught and make an out.”

The Rationale: The Long-Term Bet

Boone’s refusal to bench Chisholm was widely seen as a major, high-stakes bet on the long-term emotional trust of his players:

• Trust over Punishment: Boone prioritized preserving the confidence of a young, high-energy superstar. He made the conscious decision to avoid punishing effort, even when that effort resulted in a mistake.
• The Contrast: This moment stood in stark contrast to his highly criticized decision just two months later in the Wild Card Series, where he did bench Chisholm and other left-handed hitters against Boston’s lefty starter Garrett Crochet based on analytical matchups, leading to immense criticism and internal friction.

Against the Marlins, Boone refused to punish the “spark.” He doubled down on his belief that Chisholm’s infectious energy and desire to “make a play” were more valuable than a day on the bench.