In case you thought the Yankees’ resolution to maintain Anthony Volpe out of the lineup on Sunday and Monday signaled some kind of shift in how the group views the 24-year-old, assume once more.
“I view Anthony as our shortstop,” Aaron Boone mentioned earlier than the Yankees started a three-game sequence with the Nationals on Monday.
Volpe didn’t begin in Sunday’s sequence finale towards the Pink Sox, however he did enter within the late innings as a defensive sub. Boone mentioned to count on the same entry in Monday’s sport with José Caballero beginning at quick for the second straight sport, although Volpe by no means took the sphere.
Volpe, now in his third season, had by no means been held out of two straight beginning lineups in his profession. Boone referred to as the benching a “reset,” and Volpe is anticipated to begin on Tuesday.
Boone, at occasions an unbelievably fierce defender of Volpe’s, added that he plans on deploying the shortstop “regularly” transferring ahead regardless of his missing contributions on the plate and within the subject.
Volpe was hitting .208/.274/.400 with 18 dwelling runs, 65 RBI, 15 stolen bases and an 86 wRC+ previous to Monday. His benching adopted an 8-for-66 (.121) stretch that featured only one dwelling run and 19 strikeouts in as many video games. Previous to that, Volpe went 14-for-50 with seven homers over 14 video games following the All-Star break.
Whereas Volpe has already set a career-high for RBI and has a strong likelihood of exceeding his private better of 21 dingers, he stays vulnerable to excessive highs and lows. That’s been the case all through his inconsistent profession, a puzzling development that neither he nor the Yankees have been in a position to appropriate.
“The game’s hard. I mean, we sat here and talked last night about [Trent Grisham’s breakout season]. Hitting at this level is really tough, and it doesn’t always go like this because a guy rockets through the system and comes with high expectations,” Boone mentioned, motioning an upward trajectory along with his hand. “Generally it does, however typically it takes longer than that.
“[Volpe has] shown all the signs that he can be a really good offensive player. Consistency is that next wave, and that’s what he’s working really hard to do. I’m confident he’ll get there.”
Reality be advised, there’s no proof to assist Boone’s perception in Volpe, as his three-year pattern paints a a lot clearer image than any two-week pattern has to this point.
Volpe entered Monday’s sport with a .222/.284/.380 slash line and an 85 wRC+ over 1,799 profession plate appearances. Of the 89 gamers with 1,500 plate appearances since 2023, he ranked 89th in common and on-base share and 88th in wRC+ and OPS (.665).
There was lots of debate over what sort of hitter Volpe ought to be, as he has seemingly modified his strategy a number of occasions over his younger profession.
In 2023, he joined the 20-20 membership as a rookie, however he additionally struck out 167 occasions. That resulted in a need for extra contact final season, however that plan of assault zapped Volpe of his energy as he continued to wrestle with strikeouts. Pop has returned to Volpe’s sport this season, however whiffs stay, and he’s nicely under common in relation to OPS and wRC+, simply as he was in his first two seasons.
When requested what sort of hitter Volpe ought to be – there are followers and pundits pushing for a slap-happy singles hitter – Boone replied, “A good one. Productive. I don’t care.”
“Production comes in a lot of different ways,” the supervisor continued. “I believe typically individuals need him, as a result of he’s a shortstop with pace, to hit for a sure common and do sure issues. No, productive offensive gamers are available many shapes and varieties. So he’s acquired lots of means. He’s proven lots of flashes of that. I believe the following factor for Anthony, although, is the consistency half and limiting among the peaks and valleys.
“He’s made a lot of adjustments throughout his career so far. His first year profiled a lot different than his second year, where he made some adjustments. Maybe [it’s] some kind of hybrid between those two, which I think he is now, but the consistency part, that’s the next wave for him offensively so he can ascend as a player.”
Maybe, however Volpe has proven no true indicators that he can get there.
He’s additionally taken severe steps again on protection this 12 months, because the Gold Glover’s -7 Outs Above Common ranked twenty first out of 24 certified shortstops getting into Monday. Volpe additionally has 17 errors this season.
Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz is the one participant in baseball with extra, as he’s made 19 errors this season.
With Volpe a unfavourable on the plate and within the subject, the Yankees could be sensible to present Caballero extra begins at shortstop, because the utility man is hitting nicely in pinstripes to this point and grades out favorably on the place (4 OAA).
On Sunday, Boone referred to as Caballero a “spark” and a “winning, championship caliber player.” He additionally famous that the pesky speedster offers the Yankees a strong shortstop different off the bench, one thing they didn’t have earlier this season when Oswald Peraza served because the membership’s backup.
“Cabbie gives you that real utility presence that can go play anywhere, and especially go play short,” Boone mentioned. “We’re at the all-hands-on-deck portion of the season. We brought in Caballero, which changes the personnel we have and what we’re able to do.”
That remark had some questioning if the Yankees had modified their tune on Volpe, however Boone went again to enjoying the hits 24 hours later.
Initially Revealed: August 25, 2025 at 7:11 PM EDT
