Anthony Volpe at a Crucial Moment for the Yankees
Shortstop Anthony Volpe was not included in the starting lineup for the New York Yankees for the second consecutive game against the Washington Nationals, amid a difficult offensive period. However, Yankees manager Aaron Boone has confirmed that Volpe remains the team’s primary shortstop.This was the sixth time the Yankees played without Volpe as the starting shortstop this season, but the third in just over a week. José Caballero, acquired at the trade deadline from the Tampa Bay Rays, has filled in for him each time. Boone expects Caballero, a versatile player, to play multiple positions down the stretch. Sir, batting ninth, he hit a single in four at-bats in New York’s 10-5 victory over the Nationals. Boone described these two days as a “reset” for Volpe, who entered as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning in Sunday’s victory over the Boston Red Sox, but did not bat. Volpe did not participate in Monday night’s game. “Obviously, having Caballero here now makes things a little easier when you’re going through this,” Boone said. “So, yes, I hope a little rest over the course of the season is something that will serve him well down the stretch.” It has been a turbulent third season for Volpe, a 24-year-old first-round pick, born in New York City and raised in New Jersey. August has been particularly difficult. Volpe is 1-28 with a walk, a double, and 11 strikeouts in his last 29 plate appearances. Since a four-hit performance on August 1, he is batting .121 with 1 home run, 4 walks, 19 strikeouts, and a .414 OPS in 71 plate appearances. In general, he hasn’t taken the step forward that the Yankees expected at the beginning of the season, batting .208 with 18 home runs and an OPS of .675 in 509 plate appearances. His wRC+ of 86 ranks 144th among qualified hitters in the major leagues this season. His wRC+ of 85 since he debuted at the beginning of the 2023 season is tied for last in the majors among 89 players with at least 1,500 plate appearances during the season.“Regularly,” Boone stated when asked about how often he expects to use Volpe for the remainder of the season. “I plan on putting him back out there [on Tuesday] and probably in some way or another tonight and at some point. I just wanted to give him a couple [days] here.”
Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager
“Production comes in many different ways,” Boone said. “I think sometimes people want it because it’s a shortstop with speed, like he has to hit for a certain average and do certain things. There are productive offensive players [that] come in many shapes and forms. So, he has a lot of ability. He’s shown a lot of flashes of that. I think the next thing for Anthony, though, is the consistency part. And limiting some of the peaks and valleys.”
Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager
Perhaps the most alarming thing has been Volpe’s defensive regression in 2025. A Gold Glove winner as a rookie and a finalist last season, Volpe’s minus-7 outs above average this season ranks him 21st among 24 qualified shortstops. Last season, he finished tied for fifth in the majors with 14 OAA.
Local fans have regularly booed him due to his ongoing struggles, but Boone maintains that the treatment hasn’t affected Volpe.“I think he’s mentally very strong and totally prepared to handle all the things that come with being a Major League player in this city and being a young Major League player who has a lot of expectations on him.”“I think he handles it pretty well,” Boone said. “I don’t think he gets too affected by those things. This is just a young player who, you know, is trying his tail off and is super competitive and is trying to find that next level of consistency in his offensive game.
Aaron Boone, Yankees Manager
