The New York Yankees had great hopes going into 2024. They were put to the test right away when infielder DJ LeMahieu and starting pitcher Gerrit Cole suffered injuries.
The Bombers had a 10-2 record at the start of the regular season, in spite of this. Anthony Volpe, a shortstop, is just one of many who have contributed.
With two home runs and six RBI through 46 plate appearances this season, he is hitting.375/.444/.600. Is it possible that his strong start to the season will cause him to be promoted sooner rather than later in the lineup?
Before the New York Yankees’ game against the Miami Marlins on April 9, manager Aaron Boone of the team spoke with the media about that.
Bryan Hoch of MLB.com relayed the manager’s remarks from X (formerly Twitter): “When we look up in ten years, that’s where his future is going to be, at the top of the lineup,” said Aaron Boone after hitting Anthony Volpe leadoff.
When we look up in 10 years, that’s where his future is going to be, at the top of the lineup,” said Aaron Boone of hitting Anthony Volpe leadoff.
That’s a huge complement for Volpe, but it also doesn’t say anything about where he will stand in the Yankees lineup right now. Thus far in 2024, the 22-year-old has only hit fifth, sixth, and seventh in the ranking.
As a rookie in 2023, he did accumulate 123 plate appearances in the leadoff position. During that opportunity, Volpe recorded a.191/.276/.346 line that included four home runs, thirteen RBI, and eleven runs scored.
Anthony Volpe of the New York Yankees received high praise from rival manager
The Yankees have the advantage of having a few superstars in their starting lineup all the time. This includes players like Juan Soto and outfielder Aaron Judge. There is no denying their influence on the game. But Volpe’s actions to begin his 2024 campaign are drawing notice from others in the league.
The youthful shortstop received good marks from Marlins manager Skip Schumaker during the team’s April 8–10 visit to the Bronx. “(Anthony) Volpe at shortstop is turning into a superstar in this league,” New York Post reporter Jon Heyman said on X.
Having a potent hitter like Volpe in the second half of a lineup is pleasant. However, if he keeps hitting at this rate, rival managers might begin to wonder when the right-hand bat will move up to a better position in the order.
Could Anthony Volpe be the breakthrough the New York Yankees have been waiting for?
Baseball America, Baseball Prospectus, and MLB.com all ranked Volpe as a consensus top-20 baseball talent going into 2023. During his debut season, he struggled to establish himself in the major leagues, finishing with an OPS of.666 in 159 games.
Notably, at the age of 22, he was named the starting shortstop for the Yankees. Despite playing in just 22 games above Double-A, Volpe also made his MLB debut.
His 2023 performance did have certain advantages, though. According to Baseball-Reference, he won a Gold Glove Award, placed eighth in the American League Rookie of the Year Award voting, and amassed 23 doubles, 21 home runs, and 24 steals during that time.
His 2023 year of on-the-job training in the major leagues is already paying off. Even so, the sample size is small. But with 46 plate appearances, a 1.044 OPS, and a 209 wRC+, the front office is undoubtedly expecting that Volpe is currently experiencing his second-year surge.
Matt Musico has been writing about baseball for the past ten years and covers Major League Baseball for Heavy.com.
In addition to being the inventor of MLB Daily Dingers, he has had his work highlighted on Bleacher Report, Elite Sports NY, numberFire, MLB Trade Rumors, and Yahoo! Sports.Additional information on Matt Musico
