The Yankees’ [Yankees](/mlb/team/_/name/nyy/new-york-yankees) shortstop, Anthony Volpe, was benched for the last game of a crucial four-game series against the [Boston Red Sox](/mlb/team/_/name/bos/boston-red-sox). Volpe, who is going through a slump of 1-28, leads the Major Leagues with 17 errors. For this game, New York decided to put recently acquired José Caballero at shortstop, seeking to avoid a sweep. So far this season, Volpe is batting .208 with 18 home runs and 65 RBIs in 128 games. He has started 125 games at shortstop and this is only the fifth time he is not in the starting lineup.
“He’s having offensive struggles in the last 10 days, and we have Caballero,” explained manager Aaron Boone. “Cabby gives you that versatile presence that can play anywhere.”
Aaron BooneThis is the second time in eight days that Volpe is not a starter. After going 0-9 in the first two games against St. Louis, he also missed the last game of the series last Sunday. In the first three games against the Red Sox, Volpe didn’t get any hits in 10 at-bats. On Saturday, during a 12-1 loss, he laid down a sacrifice bunt and committed a throwing error on a ground ball by David Hamilton. Volpe, 24, batted .249 in his first 69 games. However, since June 14, his average has dropped to .153, which has generated some criticism from Yankees fans. Volpe won a Gold Glove as a rookie in 2023 and batted .209 with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs. Last season, he batted .243 with 12 home runs. In the postseason, his average was .286, including a grand slam in Game 4 of the World Series against the [Los Angeles Dodgers](/mlb/team/_/name/lad/los-angeles-dodgers). “I think he handles it pretty well,” Boone said of Volpe’s struggles. “I don’t think these things affect him too much. He’s a young player who works really hard, is super competitive, and is trying to take the next step in his offensive game. I think he’s mentally very strong and is totally prepared to handle everything that comes with being a Major League player in this city and being a young Major League player with a lot of expectations on him.” Caballero, acquired from Tampa Bay at the July 31st trade deadline, was batting .320 in 14 games with the Yankees and .235 overall before Sunday’s game. In addition to playing shortstop, Caballero has started at second base, third base, and right field. New York began the night six games behind first place in the American League East, occupied by Toronto, and 1 1/2 games behind Boston, which is in second place. The Yankees, Red Sox, and Mariners are very close in the fight for the three American League wild cards.
