Anthony Volpe’s Painful Return
It looks like Anthony Volpe had quite the scare recently.
The Yankees’ shortstop made his way back into the lineup, going 2-for-2 just two days after leaving Friday’s game due to discomfort.
During that game, Volpe was clearly in pain after being struck by a pitch from Walker Buhler, clocking in at 88.8 mph. He was taken out before his next at-bat.
Though he didn’t play on Saturday, he was in the dugout during the eighth inning, cheering on his teammates, despite the team’s loss.
On Sunday, Volpe was swinging again and told Aaron Boone that he “feels better.” He took the plate while wearing new padding on his elbow, trying to protect the injury.
“It’s great to have him back,” Boone commented before the Yankees lost to the Red Sox, 11-7.
Since debuting in 2023, the 24-year-old has been a solid presence, playing in 382 games without hitting the injured list, despite a few concerns along the way, including a shoulder issue earlier this season.
This time, the main issue was his swelling left elbow. Thankfully, x-rays and CT scans showed no significant damage.
“Being available for the team is everything to me,” Volpe said, emphasizing his commitment as a regular player.
In other news, Cody Bellinger had another solid outing, going 1-for-4 with a walk. He’s been impressive, batting .319/.394/.552 over the past 30 games.
On his second rehab appearance, Jake Cousins pitched two innings, allowing just one run on two hits while striking out three at High A Hudson Valley on Saturday.
Boone mentioned that he got good feedback about Cousins’ progress, noting, “We’re moving in the right direction.” Cousins is recovering from a right elbow flexor strain and could soon be ready for the roster.
The Yankees also picked up infielder CJ Alexander from A-ball, assigning him to SWB. Alexander, 28, is a versatile player with 10 games of Major League experience and holds an impressive .832 OPS over 222 games at the Triple-A level.
Jasson Domínguez sat out the lineup against righty Hunter Dobbins, while Bellinger took left field, Trent Grisham played center, and Ben Rice served as the designated hitter.
After starting four consecutive games, Austin Wells was pulled from the starting lineup, with JC Eskara taking over. Eskara got hit in the seventh and later walked in the ninth, but he managed to go 2-for-2 overall.
