Anthony Volpe Begins Rehab Games

Anthony Volpe kicked off his rehab on Tuesday, facing off against Phillies ace Zack Wheeler, who is also in recovery. While the statistics from Volpe’s rehab game are important, what’s really significant is that he’s ramping up his workload after undergoing surgery last October to fix a torn labrum in his left shoulder. Facing Wheeler, who’s dealing with issues related to a blood clot and thoracic outlet syndrome, certainly didn’t make for an easy re-entry into the game during his first match with Double-A Somerset.

“I feel great,” Volpe shared following his outing, where he pitched five innings and went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. “This is a big milestone, a big checkpoint. It feels good to be back out there.”

The Yankees shortstop is set to play in four games this week against Double-A Somerset, possibly hitting the field on both Thursday and Friday. After that, he’ll likely transition to another affiliate to continue building up his stamina next week.

According to General Manager Brian Cashman, Volpe’s target is around 55 at-bats, which mirrors a typical spring training schedule. However, the Yankees mentioned that this number could also include live batting practice or sessions with the Trajekt pitching machine.

On another note, Manager Aaron Boone stated that sending Jake Byrd to Triple-A was more about needing a fresh arm rather than targeting him specifically for a role in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

After Byrd struggled on Monday, giving up three runs in one inning, the team decided to call up Yerry de los Santos on Tuesday to fill his spot in the bullpen. De Los Santos, however, had a brief stint, as he was sent back to Triple-A after giving up one run and throwing 44 pitches over two innings in a 7-1 loss against the Angels.

“Obviously, Birdie had a tough time,” Boone noted. “Jake Byrd has played a key role in a lot of win situations, getting some crucial outs. I think he remains a viable option as we get closer to 15 days or if the situation arises that we need him again.” There seems to be a continuous need for some sort of compensation there, I suppose.

After the Yankees picked up Byrd at the trade deadline last season, he was sent down to Triple-A after just three games and didn’t return for the remainder of the year. This time around, though, the statistics should be different, especially as the team works to discern who they can really depend on at the backend of the bullpen.

In other game news, Ben Rice wasn’t the only player left out against Angels lefty Reid Detmers on Tuesday, as fellow left-handers Jazz Chisholm Jr. and Cody Bellinger also sat this one out. Rice stepped into the game as a pinch hitter in the eighth inning and contributed a sacrifice fly, giving the Yankees their only run of the game.

Amed Rosario took Chisholm’s place at second base while Randal Grichak filled in for Bellinger in left field (Trent Grisham made his first start against lefties this season).

Boone commented, “I think Jazz is one of those players who’s been struggling a bit early this season. The weather is improving, and we’re dealing with a right-handed lineup, which affects our defensive strategy. I sensed Berry was getting a bit fatigued in recent days, especially since he’s played every game, every inning. It’s a long stretch at the start of the season, so it seemed wise to give him a break today.”