Yankees Stick with Anthony Volpe

The Yankees plan to stick with Anthony Volpe, despite his ongoing struggles. Errors have been stacking up, and manager Aaron Boone keeps putting him in the starting lineup, even as the crowd reacts with boos following his mistakes.

“Honestly, I was hesitant, I didn’t want to do it,” Boone said before the matchup against the Bronx Rays. “He’s had some rough spots, especially at key times. He hasn’t made some plays. But, you know, Anthony is tough.”

Volpe, who won the Gold Glove in 2023, made two errors during the game against the Rays on Tuesday. One was a mistake involving a failed flip to Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base, which resulted in the Rays scoring their first run.

With a total of 15 errors so far, he leads the league in this category, tied with Ellie de la Cruz. Volpe’s .959 fielding percentage is also the lowest in his three years in the league.

Boone shared his personal experience from his sophomore year as a college fielder at USC, where he made 18 errors in his first 18 games. He reminisced about overcoming those challenges. Just like batters can struggle, fielders face tough times too.

“It can happen, even if you’re a really good player,” Boone noted. “I tell him, you’re really good, that’s reality. He’s a Gold Glove player. He makes plays that others can’t.”

“I believe his mental toughness will help him get through this. We’re all working with him to navigate it. I think the best is still ahead for him, more than this year.”

Infield coach Travis Chapman has observed no change in Volpe’s pre-game preparation. He’s still putting in the extra effort to improve his defense. They’ve been working hard on footwork and situational plays.

Chapman said, “Honestly, he probably works harder than almost anyone else. He’s a really good shortstop.”

The mental side of the game seems to be a big hurdle. Boone remarked that Volpe may be overthinking certain plays, leading to hesitation before making throws. “I don’t think it’s as significant as it seems, but yeah, when you’re not executing plays as you normally do, it can get to you. He acknowledges he isn’t making the necessary plays, but I think he has the mental strength to work through it.”

On the flip side, Volpe had a solid night at the plate on Tuesday, earning two runs batted in. Yet, fans in New York were quick to voice their displeasure after his defensive errors. Boone doesn’t think the boos have gotten to him.

“You play long enough, and you’ll have ups and downs,” Boone reflected, mentioning how even legends like Mariano Rivera faced boos during his early career. “It surprised me back then, but it’s part of the game.” He concluded, “I think Volpe will come out on the other side of this.”