The Yankees’ biggest game of the season began with Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the bench. 

And if that was going to be how Chisholm’s tenure with the team ended — replaced by Anthony Volpe at second base for a 4-3 loss to the Rays to get swept in the ALDS on Wednesday night at Yankee Stadium — it sure was telling.

Chisholm eventually entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, though he popped out on the second pitch of his at-bat and was booed by the sellout crowd.

He later hit into a fielder’s choice in the ninth and stole second base as the potential tying run, but was stranded there to end the night and perhaps his Yankee career.

“This is where I want to be,” the pending free agent said after it was all over.

Chisholm no-commented most of the questions about not being in the starting lineup, other than to say he would have preferred a conversation with Aaron Boone about it.

Boone explained it as wanting a spark with Volpe, saying he “just felt like it.”

The impetus for the move was Chisholm’s poor Game 2, when he committed a throwing error in the first inning and nearly had another before George Lombard Jr. saved him, not to mention entering Wednesday 0-for-6 with a walk in the ALDS, though he had plenty of company in that regard.

As for the boos directed his way later in the night?

“I already understand New York fans,” Chisholm said. “They booed Aaron Judge before, who am I?”

Jazz Chisholm Jr. walks back to the dugout after fouling out to first base during the seventh inning of the Yankees’ 4-3 season-ending loss to the Rays in Game 3 of their ALDS series on Oct. 7, 2026 in The Bronx. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

“It doesn’t hurt, it’s just confusing because it’s the playoffs and we’re trying to win games. So you’re booing a guy that’s playing currently trying to help the team win. You’re hearing boos instead of trying to hype guys up. But at the end of the day, it didn’t hurt me because I’ve seen Aaron Judge get booed here too.”

This marked the second playoff game Chisholm started on the bench, though the first came against a lefty (Payton Tolle) in Game 1 of the AL wild-card series. This one was with Rays right-hander Nick Martinez on the mound.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. fouls out to first base during the seventh inning of the Yankees’ season-ending loss to the Rays. Charles Wenzelberg / New York Post

Chisholm has had a maddeningly inconsistent run with the Yankees, one that seems unlikely to continue beyond this year.

He may have more talent and tools than almost any other player on the roster, most notably his speed, athleticism and power, but the Yankees have not been able to get that out of him regularly enough, especially this year.

The 28-year-old hit only .231 with a .711 OPS, 19 home runs and 41 steals in 137 games during the regular season. 

Anthony Volpe practices under the watchful eye of second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. during infield drills during batting practice before the Yankees’ Game 1 AL wild-card win over the Red Sox on Sept. 28, 2026 in The Bronx. JASON SZENES FOR NEW YORK POST

“I love it as a Yankee,” Chisholm said. “It was a great time being a Yankee. I loved my time as a Yankee. … To see it maybe end here sucks, but it’s part of the business.”