Anthony Volpe will need to continue to adjust no matter where he bats in the order.
That’s the message from Yankees hitting coach James Lawson, who watched the Yankees shortstop perform well through the first few weeks of the season before falling into a long slump and falling out of the top of the lineup starting Thursday.
The next day, Volpe batted seventh when the Yankees opened their series against the Red Sox in the Bronx.
Rowson said earlier this season, pitchers tried to attack Volpe at the top of the zone.
When Volpe went to deliver that pitch, pitchers tried to jam him.
He then threw more sliders, but “he was able to make that adjustment,” Rowson added.
For Volpe, who entered Friday looking off kilter with his on-base percentage dropping to .307, too many ground balls and just six home runs in his first 88 games, it was time for another adjustment.
“[Opposing pitchers are] “Right now he’s trying to figure out that position,” Rowson said Friday, “but I think as time goes on, he has the ability and the aptitude to continue to adjust to the league, so I’m very proud of how he’s done this year.”
Statistically speaking, Volpe’s year was mixed.
The 23-year-old has shown remarkable growth since his rookie season, and expectations have risen after he recorded an on-base percentage of .444 and an OPS of 1.044 in 11 games, which has seen him rise to the top of the batting lineup since April 10th.
Volpe was at the top of the lineup for about two months and performed consistently, if not exceptionally, well.
But in 25 games played between June 6 and Wednesday, he batted .183 with three walks and 29 strikeouts.
The Yankees couldn’t keep his hitter hitting .203 in that span behind Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, and Ben Rice came in to replace him.
Pitchers seemed to attack Volpe differently when the two best hitters in the game followed him.
Batting in center or lower in the lineup to begin the season, Volpe threw 53.2 percent of his pitches outside the zone.
While he was the leadoff hitter, the percentage of pitches outside the zone dropped to 48.8%.
Perhaps part of Volpe’s slump was that opposing pitchers threw more strikes to Soto and Judge, not wanting to walk runners.
“My instincts tell me [pitchers are] I’m obviously going to think about it. [an at-bat] “It’s a little bit different when they’re leading the game as the second or third man,” Rowson said.
Perhaps a return to a softer part of the lineup would help Volpe.
But Rowson doesn’t think the pressure of playing at first base is contributing to his slump.
“This kid is very mentally tough and very good at what he does,” Lawson said of the second-year major leaguer. “No matter where he’s in the lineup, he’s going to be able to do what’s needed. That’s my impression of him.”
“I think this kid is different. He’s something special. Always competing, always fighting. So no matter where he goes, No. 1, No. 5, No. 6, No. 7, I think he’s going to be the best version of himself.”
