Anthony Volpe is set to play his first minor league game without a rehab designation in over three years on Tuesday, where he’ll be starting at shortstop.
Having been sent down at the end of his rehab stint on Sunday night, he embarks on a journey with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre without a timeline for his return. The Yankees’ plans regarding when—or if—they might allow him to play another position remain a point of curiosity, especially if it could help facilitate his return to the big leagues.
“We’ll see,” said manager Aaron Boone on Monday, just before facing the Orioles in their final game of the series. “For now, he’s going to play shortstop. If we have those discussions as the days go on, that might change. But right now, that’s where we are.”
This statement seemed a bit more open-ended compared to Boone’s comments made prior to Volpe’s demotion, especially since Jose Caballero has put in a solid performance in the 34 games he’s played, maintaining the shortstop position for the time being.
While there’s a chance for Volpe’s comeback, considering Caballero’s recent struggles, there is also the fact that top prospect George Lombard Jr. has been called up from Double-A and is now part of the Triple-A setup.
Lombard, primarily a shortstop but with experience in third and second base, isn’t likely to give up on shortstop entirely. So, if he maintains that position, it raises the question: where does that leave Volpe?
“George is going to continue to move around, as he has in the past,” Boone noted. “We’ll keep reassessing this as we go along. But George already has significant experience at third, second, and short, and I don’t think that’ll change much.”
Aaron Judge, who spoke with Volpe for about 30 to 40 minutes on Sunday night, called the situation “tough” and “a surprise.” He also acknowledged Caballero’s strong performance, noting that it was challenging to turn things around. Judge hinted that if Volpe could diversify his skills, it might work in his favor.
“I know he’s going to be more motivated than ever to get back here,” Judge mentioned. “Anthony has a crucial role in our progress moving forward.”
Reflecting on the news, Boone said Volpe took it “like a pro.” Yet, it’s evident that the 25-year-old might not be thrilled about the situation, especially after working hard to recover from his shoulder surgery. Boone recognized the shift in expectations recently, noting, “I think he also understands that. Anthony is a professional, and I trust he’ll handle this in the best way possible.”
Despite the decision to send Volpe down, Boone reassured that it doesn’t change the organization’s overall outlook on him, either now or in the future. “In this moment, we felt this was absolutely the right decision. This should provide him more time to get daily reps, and we will keep evaluating his progress,” he concluded.
