Volpe’s Future Looks Bright, Says Former Coach

Sean Casey, who stepped in as the interim hitting coach for the New York Yankees during Anthony Volpe’s rookie season in 2023, believes the best is yet to come for the young shortstop. Despite Volpe facing some criticism for his performance lately, Casey maintains confidence in his potential.

In 2025, the 24-year-old Volpe has struggled, showcasing a .214/.286/.400 batting line with an OPS of .686. This has placed him ninth in the lineup this week, raising eyebrows among fans and analysts. Notably, Alex Rodriguez recently remarked on Volpe’s struggles, deeming his gameplay “not baseball.”

Rodriguez has suggested a shift in focus for Volpe, advocating for a more traditional approach that emphasizes batting average and run production. He expressed frustration, saying, “I traded RBIs for Volpe’s home runs. Today, I’d rather see a player with a .280 average, 10-12 home runs, and solid defense.”

However, Casey pushed back against this perspective. On his podcast, he highlighted that not everyone can be a superstar like Rodriguez or Derek Jeter, stating, “Anthony Volpe is fine. No one works harder than him. He’s always in the cage and maintains a great routine.”

Volpe’s consistency at the plate has been a challenge, but he has shown glimpses of power, hitting 13 home runs this season. With 54 RBIs so far, he is close to matching his total from last year.

Casey referenced Volpe’s recent game against the Braves, indicating that each player’s development is unique. He observed Volpe’s mechanics, noting, “When you load it, it’s like what are these guys trying to do? They’re about to hit at the upper rail.”

“I think Volpe will hit his stride,” Casey added, optimistic that he can maintain a pace of around 18 home runs and 85 RBIs. After all, the essence of baseball is scoring more runs than the opponent.

While Volpe’s numbers this season don’t reflect a huge leap forward, his power metrics remain comparable to his earlier seasons. However, he is hitting only .176 against breaking pitches, a drop from his previous .209 average.

Defensively, Volpe has also faced challenges this year. After earning a Gold Glove as a rookie, his recent performance has included notable errors. Still, Casey believes that this year’s struggles are merely a bump in the road and that Volpe will play a significant role for the Yankees moving forward.

“He’s still got 54 RBIs, and we’re only halfway through the season,” Casey reiterated, showcasing his faith in Volpe’s ability to bounce back. “I’ll take that any day.”