Anthony Volpe of the Yankees has another game without getting a hit after his reset

Anthony Volpe Returns After Bench Time

Anthony Volpe’s brief time off ended Tuesday night when he rejoined the lineup after sitting out two games. He nearly hit his 19th home run of the season during the bottom of the eighth, sending a ball hard, but unfortunately, it was a tough night overall for him in a game that ended with the Yankees losing 5-1 to the Nationals.

“He hit one at 106 mph in a not-so-great part of the park during his last at-bat,” manager Aaron Boone commented, noting that Volpe was “fine.”

Despite being 4-4 at the plate, Volpe has now extended his hitless streak to 19 games and is in a rough patch, marked by a significant 32-1 slump. These struggles have led to mounting speculation as the team heads into a critical series against Boston.

Volpe acknowledged the impact of sitting out, taking it in stride, and said he aimed to stay positive, describing his approach as “taking it on the chin.”

The matchup against the right-handed pitcher for the Yankees started the day after Volpe faced lefty Mackenzie Gore from Washington, so it remains to be seen how the decision to rest him, especially at just 24 years old, will pay off.

Before the game, Boone clarified that the break wasn’t purely mental, though he admitted that stress could stem from the situation. “This isn’t about saying he needs a mental reset. I haven’t seen him in a bad mental state,” Boone explained, emphasizing that he has overlooked some notions circulating in the media.

This marked the first instance where the Yankees decided to bench Volpe for multiple games amidst another slump, which is, I guess, a notable shift.

While Boone and other officials have recently shown more support for Volpe, his defensive errors in preceding games did not go unnoticed, leading to Jose Caballero taking his spot on the field.

Volpe’s performance in the coming weeks could influence how the Yankees view his role in the future. With Caballero’s arrival from Tampa Bay ahead of the trade deadline, the team now has a reliable backup. Of course, Oswald Cabrera has been reliable but hasn’t had any injuries to overshadow Volpe’s struggles.

The Yankees value Caballero’s defensive skills and might utilize him to give Volpe some additional rest if they believe it would benefit his play.

Ultimately, the focus for the Yankees now is figuring out how to help Volpe regain his footing at the plate.

“I really hope he can turn things around offensively and get back to being hot for us,” Boone remarked. Volpe’s ups and downs have been apparent in his brief major league career, and Boone noted how hard he’s working toward consistency.