Why New York Yankees star Jazz Chisholm attended Clemson vs Syracuse basketball game

This story was updated to add new information.

CLEMSON – New York Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. sat behind the Clemson basketball bench to watch the Tigers beat ACC rival Syracuse 86-72 Wednesday at Littlejohn Coliseum.

Chisholm sat with Clemson baseball coach Erik Bakich as the Tigers won their fourth straight game. Clemson baseball announced a gear partnership with Absolutely Ridiculous, a brand Chisholm represents, on Thursday. The company will be the exclusive brand for the Tigers’ fielding gloves, mitts and glove straps.

Clemson basketball coach Brad Brownell noted that Chisholm was sitting behind his bench, but admitted after the game that he had no idea who the MLB player was.

“Maybe I should. I’m a (Cincinnati) Reds fan,” Brownell said. “I used to be a big baseball fan, and I’m probably not as much now. I’ve gotten a little busier and the Reds haven’t been as good.”

Clemson fans lined up to greet and take pictures with Chisholm, who was acquired during the season by the Yankees, who eventually lost in the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Bakich, who accompanies Chisholm, continued an eventful offseason for the coach and the Clemson baseball team. The Tigers played the Savannah Bananas in an exhibition game and defeated Alabama 8-3 in a seven-inning exhibition game in November.

MORE: Clemson basketball vs Syracuse final score: Chase Hunter leads Tigers to fourth straight win

Clemson baseball opens its season Feb. 14 in the Shriners Children’s College Showdown in Arlington, Texas.

Derrian Carter covers Clemson athletics for The Greenville News and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at [email protected] and follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @DerrianCarter00

This article originally appeared on the Greenville News: New York Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. attends the Clemson-Syracuse game