Miami Marlins infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. has been having a breakout season in 2022.
So far, he is slashing .295/.337/.611 with six home runs, 17 runs scored, 24 RBI, and six steals.
He has accumulated 1.6 Wins Above Replacement (WAR) up until Thursday afternoon and is on an excellent full-season pace.
Yet, the Marlins still haven’t decided on a permanent spot for him in the lineup.
This is not uncommon for modern MLB teams: they often move around their biggest offensive stars depending on the pitcher’s handedness or what they are trying to achieve that day.
But the Marlins’ place for Chisholm has been all over the place.
“Jazz’s games this year by batting order position: 1st —> 15 games. 6th —> 2 games. 7th —> 1 game. 8th —> 2 games. 9th —> 6 games,” Codify Baseball tweeted.
Jazz's games this year by batting order position:
1st —> 15 games
6th —> 2 games
7th —> 1 game
8th —> 2 games
9th —> 6 games— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) May 11, 2022
The Marlins Should Have Chisholm Hit First As Much As They Can
Ideally, Chisholm’s OBP would need to be a bit higher for him to be the perfect leadoff hitter, but in reality, he is the Marlins’ most talented hitter, and he belongs at the top.
Why?
Because the leadoff hitter is the one who gets the most plate appearances over the course of a season.
Over a week or a month, the difference in plate appearances between a leadoff hitter and a ninth hitter may not seem like much, but it’s significant, and it becomes evident over the course of a full campaign.
The Marlins aren’t exactly a team that scores runs in bunches, so they should be placing their best hitters at the top to get the most at-bats for them.
Miami has played Chisholm as the leadoff hitter more than other slots, but hitting him ninth shouldn’t be an option.
NEXT: Jazz Chisholm Matching An MVP Candidate So Far With Hot Start