Anthony Volpe’s underwhelming season for the New York Yankees has made the shortstop a subject of controversy within the Bronx, and extra consideration was generated this week when it was revealed that Volpe has been taking part in with a small tear in his left shoulder labrum since Could 3. Attempting to play by this shoulder drawback has clearly impacted Volpe’s efficiency — not solely has he hit .197/.248/.378 in 418 plate appearances since struggling the harm, Volpe’s previously wonderful protection has drastically fallen off.
Talking with ESPN’s Jorge Castillo and different reporters on Friday, Yankees GM Brian Cashman famous Volpe’s “robust stretch” and mentioned that “this isn’t the season we anticipated or he anticipated.” That mentioned, Cashman gave a vote of confidence to Volpe, saying that the 2025 season “doesn’t change our viewpoint of what he’s able to,” and that he’s nonetheless the Yankees’ selection at shortstop going ahead.
“He’s somebody that we will depend on and we imagine in….I feel he’s a extremely proficient man and I feel he has an opportunity to be a constructive influence, clearly,” Cashman mentioned.
Volpe was hitting considerably higher (.239/.333/.453) in his first 135 plate appearances of the season pre-injury, so it might be that his labrum tear prevented a possible breakout 12 months. Nonetheless, Volpe’s full-season numbers aren’t far off the .228/.288/.373 slash line he posted over 1290 PA in his first two Main League seasons, so it isn’t as if struggles on the plate are a brand new drawback for the 24-year-old.
‘Subsequent Derek Jeter’ hype hasn’t helped New York Yankees’ Anthony Volpe
Outsized expectations have adopted Volpe ever since his emergence as considered one of baseball’s prime prospects, and the Yankees’ determination to debut him as their Opening Day shortstop in 2023. Whereas the staff itself has all the time been fast to downplay the “subsequent Derek Jeter” hype, the Yankees’ rapid set up of Volpe in an on a regular basis position has stood in stark distinction to the membership’s extra rare utilization of most different prime minor leaguers lately. If something, Volpe’s critics are positive to argue that Cashman’s continued confidence in Volpe is a part of the issue, and that the Yankees ought to be extra open to upgrading at shortstop.
Whereas Cashman has made some quite blunt critiques of different New York gamers prior to now, it solely is smart for the GM to proceed his public help of Volpe, and there isn’t any purpose to but suspect that the Yankees aren’t viewing Volpe’s tough 12 months as something however a by-product of his shoulder harm. Since Volpe is barely getting into arbitration eligibility this coming offseason, his three remaining years of fairly cheap staff management make him an intriguing asset on a staff loaded with huge salaries and a hefty luxurious tax invoice. If Volpe is ready to get wholesome and escape as, in Cashman’s phrases, “a high quality, above-average common shortstop within the recreation,” that’s a significant increase for the Yankees on each entrance.
Nonetheless, discovering one other cheap shortstop candidate may change the equation, and one such participant could have already been present in Jose Caballero. Acquired from the Rays on the commerce deadline, Caballero has hit .263/.358/.439 in 68 PA within the pinstripes, which far and away represents one of the best offensive stretch of his three MLB seasons. The utilityman has additionally pitched in at each nook outfield slots, second base, and third base, however most of Caballero’s time has come at shortstop within the wake of Volpe’s elevated missed time.
Volpe hasn’t performed since Tuesday after receiving a cortisone shot in his ailing shoulder, paving the way in which for Caballero to step into common shortstop responsibility. Boone informed Castillo and firm that “we’ll see” about who performs shortstop when Volpe is able to return, which hints that the Yankees might be contemplating a timeshare on the place.
The longer-term subject of Volpe’s well being can be a lingering query. Cashman mentioned extra can be identified as soon as Volpe receives extra checks, and whereas the GM “wouldn’t rule…out” an offseason surgical procedure, “as of proper now, there’s no surgical procedure beneficial. There’s not even an IL beneficial.” Ought to Volpe certainly find yourself going beneath the knife, he’d very possible miss a while and maybe an prolonged quantity of the 2026 season, leaving the Yankees in want of one other shortstop.
