When Jazz Chisholm Jr. arrived in the Bronx, he brought swagger, speed, and a bold promise: a 50/50 season to rival Shohei Ohtani's historic campaign. But 32 games into 2026, that confidence is starting to look like a distant memory.

The Yankees infielder is hitting just .209 with a .625 OPS, tallying only three home runs and nine stolen bases (with two caught stealing). For a player who declared he'd match Ohtani's unprecedented 50-homer, 50-steal milestone, the early returns have been underwhelming—and some are wondering if it's time to hit the panic button.

MLB.com's Thomas Harrigan recently applied that exact label to Chisholm, noting that while his stolen base pace is respectable, the power has vanished. "He has gone deep just three times in 31 games—including a 23-game drought to open the campaign," Harrigan wrote. The underlying metrics are even more concerning: Chisholm ranks among the league's biggest decliners in barrel rate (down 8.4 points) and expected slugging percentage (down .151).

It's not just the bat. Defensively, Chisholm has been a liability at second base, posting -13 defensive runs saved. His strikeout rate (27.9%) mirrors last season's struggles, and with free agency looming at season's end, his slow start could cost him both money and years on his next contract.

For Yankees fans, the question isn't whether Chisholm can bounce back—it's how long they can afford to wait. In a division where every game matters, patience may be wearing thin. But as the old baseball saying goes, it's a long season. The real test for Chisholm will be whether he can adjust before "time to panic" becomes "too late."