Anthony Volpe’s struggles lead Aaron Boone to make a choice for the Yankees

Anthony Volpe’s Recent Struggles Lead to Bench Time

Anthony Volpe’s ongoing slump has resulted in him sitting out on Saturday. Instead of taking the field, the shortstop was substituted by Trent Grisham during the crucial ninth inning of a close game.

This decision comes after Aaron Boone opted to face Reed Garrett with the left-handed Grisham, while Volpe faced Garrett first as the team experienced a tough 6-5 loss to the Mets at Citifield.

Unfortunately, the change didn’t pan out, as Grisham ended up popping out to left field, highlighting Volpe’s struggles, particularly over the past few weeks. His OPS has dipped to .695, marking the lowest point since late April.

Volpe reflected on the situation, noting, “Your competitors want to be there and help the team. You feel like you can, but they’re not out of my control. What’s in my control is just doing my job and taking those at-bats. You can’t win them all.”

Boone acknowledged that Volpe’s recent challenges were part of the reasoning behind this decision. “I knew Garrett was back. I would rather face him,” Boone mentioned, speaking about Volpe’s recent performance and Grisham’s potential to help the team.

This kind of rough stretch isn’t new for Volpe or the Yankees, as young players often go through ups and downs in their careers. There’s still hope that Volpe will find a way to utilize the entire field more effectively, but too often he hits to the left side of the infield.

When asked about feeling pressured amid both his own struggles and the team’s, Volpe admitted, “It’s certainly shattering.”

He remarked, “I think it’s just the right time. When your timing’s off, everything can feel out of sync.”

Boone commented on Volpe’s performance as a mix of good and bad, describing it as “a mixed bag.” He pointed out a deep fly ball Volpe hit that was tracked by Tyrone Taylor as a promising sign.

Despite the occasional flashes of brilliance, Volpe is struggling, having only three extra-base hits in his last 22 games. It feels like a distant memory to the almost painful end to the 2024 season after his playoff heroics.