PETERSBURG, Fla. — Anthony Volpe’s time in Tampa is nearing its conclusion.
Despite that, he remains the Yankees’ starting shortstop.
Volpe still has some rehabilitation to complete, which might get underway as early as Tuesday. This follows his October surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder.
When Brian Cashman was asked about Volpe’s role once he’s back, he provided a clear answer. “That was always the plan,” he stated ahead of the Yankees’ series against the Rays at Tropicana Field. “But ultimately it will be the coach’s decision.”
For a while now, there’s been a consensus that once Volpe regains his health, he’ll have the opportunity to reclaim his starting position at shortstop. Last year’s struggles on the field are believed to have stemmed mainly from his shoulder injury, which significantly affected his performance.
In the meantime, Jose Caballero—filling in as the starting shortstop—hasn’t quite capitalized on the situation. He’s been hitting just .135 with a .362 OPS, alongside two errors in 12 games.
On Friday, Volpe was set to take more live at-bats at the team’s player development facility in Tampa. He plans to increase his at-bats over the weekend before heading back to New York with the Yankees on Sunday night. On Monday, he’ll meet with team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad for final clearance. If all goes well, he could kick off his rehab assignment at Double-A Somerset as early as Tuesday, a timeline manager Aaron Boone had initially targeted for later in spring training.
“He got a lot of at-bats, a lot of reps in the field,” Boone mentioned. “They’re wearing catapults [monitors] to track their workload—his is likely higher than most. I wish him well in his rehab process.”
On the last day of camp, Volpe expressed that he felt “healthier than I’ve ever been,” but as his hitting improves, patience becomes trickier.
Outside of game action, he’s done everything needed, and now it’s about ramping up his at-bats. Cashman reiterated the aim to integrate him back in soon. “We’re looking at deploying him soon,” he said. They want Volpe to build a solid foundation in the game, aiming for around 55 at-bats in spring training so that he can be safely stepped up in various innings.
Ultimately, when the time comes, Volpe will have to address the uncertainties regarding his future in the organization. At 24, his hitting stats have shown inconsistency during his three years in the majors, finishing with OPS numbers that hover around the same range each year. Notably, he struggled defensively last season, particularly during the summer. After earning a Gold Glove Award in 2023, his advanced defensive stats took a hit, although it was evident that this was linked to his nagging left shoulder injury.
“I know he’s really excited to be here today and be with the players,” Boone remarked. “I recall when he first went to Tampa, right after the new year; he seemed to grow and improve quite a bit. I know he’s eager to return.”
