New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. made an honest admission after being booed by fans during Wednesday's season-ending 4-3 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays in Game 3 of the American League Division Series at Yankee Stadium.

Chisholm entered the game as a seventh-inning pinch hitter after manager Aaron Boone chose Anthony Volpe to start at second base. When Chisholm popped out to first base, fans loudly booed him as he returned to the dugout.

“It doesn't [hurt],” said Chisholm. “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. And I'm 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. So, who am I? That's a three-time MVP.”

Chisholm's reaction came after a difficult season. He went 0-for-8 with a walk across the three ALDS games and entered Game 3 without a hit in his first six at-bats of the series. His falloff followed a costly defensive mistake in Game 2, when an ill-advised no-look throw on a double-play attempt allowed a run to score. He also misplayed another double-play throw during New York's four-error game.

Boone said the Game 3 lineup change was intended to provide more balance, but Chisholm was irritated that the manager did not contact him before the lineup was announced. It was the second time during the postseason that Chisholm had been benched for Volpe, following Game 1 of the Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox.

Chisholm eventually got another opportunity in the ninth inning on Wednesday. He hit a 106-mph grounder to second, reached first on a fielder's choice, and then stole second base. Trent Grisham struck out in the next at-bat, ending the game and the Yankees' season.

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After hitting 31 home runs and stealing 31 bases last year, Chisholm finished this season with a .231 batting average, 19 homers, 55 RBIs and 41 stolen bases across 137 games. His 97 wRC+ ranked 14th among qualified second basemen.

Chisholm is now headed toward free agency, leaving his future in New York uncertain heading into the offseason. Despite that, he said he does not want to play anywhere else. The Bronx remains especially meaningful to Chisholm, who grew up a Yankees fan and idolized Derek Jeter.

New York's ALDS sweep extended the franchise's championship drought to 17 seasons, while the Rays advanced to the AL Championship Series with Wednesday's victory.