Yankees Player Update: Volpe and Managerial Insights
In Sunday’s game against the Rays, Anthony Volpe didn’t see any action, with Jose Caballero stepping in at shortstop. However, it looks like Volpe will get more chances to play soon, especially during the upcoming series.
The Yankees are heading to Kansas City on Monday, where they’ll face Michael Wacha, a right-hander who tends to perform better against lefties. They’ll also see lefties Bailey Falter and Noah Cameron in that series. Meanwhile, over in Sacramento, the Athletics are slated to start lefty Jacob Lopez on Saturday.
Manager Aaron Boone mentioned that Volpe is just beginning to transition into a second base role but sees value in Caballero’s flexibility as an infielder, allowing him to stay at shortstop when he’s active. Boone said, “If we go to Kansas City, I expect Anthony to play a lot,” which might leave Ryan McMahon sidelined.
Boone also commented on Volpe’s potential to excel at second base, saying, “I hope he does well at second.” It’s interesting to note that Volpe hasn’t played anywhere other than shortstop in a game since 2021, when he was in High-A. He did get some time at second base before securing his shortstop position for 2023.
Interestingly, the Yankees actually traded Caballero last season, initially planning to use him in a different role. But now, with Volpe recovering from shoulder surgery, Caballero has been honing his skills at shortstop while filling in.
Boone expressed confidence in Caballero’s ability to revert to a utility role if necessary, praising his adaptability. “That’s one of his superpowers,” Boone noted. “I have a lot of confidence in Jose. No matter where we place him, he can influence the game in various ways.”
Judge’s Intense Game Performance
Aaron Judge’s notable contributions weren’t limited to just hitting a game-winning home run in the ninth inning. He also made a remarkable diving catch in the eighth that kept Tampa Bay from scoring, although he did have a rare base-running mistake in the first inning.
After Judge hit a single, Ben Rice connected on a powerful shot into right field. Judge found himself nearly at second base when Ryan Billade snagged it, leading to a double play that ended the inning.
Reflecting on the situation, Judge said, “Normally, if Ben Rice hits a shot into the gap, it’s going to fly wide. You have to keep your head spinning. Right off the bat, I thought it would go into the gap; it’s tight, aiming to score or get to third. When he looked in, it was right at him. That was on me; I need to clean that up.”
In a late-game decision, Boone opted to replace closer David Bednar with left-hander Tim Hill due to a scoreless situation. The inning started with lefty Chandler Simpson, but Hill struck him out, though he experienced some stress with walks and singles, following a rough outing where he allowed four runs in Friday’s game.
Pitcher Updates
As for Gerrit Cole, he reported feeling fine after making his first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in March 2025. He’s cleared to play catch and is set to pitch again on Wednesday in Kansas City. Will Warren is lined up for Monday, while Cam Schritler is scheduled for Tuesday.
