The New York Yankees are usually a well-rounded club, with contributions from both sides of the field. Going into the 2025 postseason, one player who could work wonders for himself and the team is infielder Anthony Volpe.
Yankees Infielder Needs a Huge Postseason Output for Him and His Team
A lot of the focus right now is on the Yankees’ pitching staff, closer situations, and the offense. While these are valid concerns, offence and defence need to be a priority.
Offence is a non-controllable factor when putting out a lineup; it’s a gamble you take as a manager. Defense won’t win you a game, but it can lose you a game. That’s where Volpe’s name gets inserted into this conversation.
Where the 2025 Season for Volpe Went Decline Mode
The month of April 2025 was not entirely bad for the Yankees shortstop. He played in 28 games to start the season, recording 102 at-bats, 25 hits, three home runs, 15 RBIs, 13 runs scored, a .245 batting average, .333 on-base percentage, and a .431 slugging percentage.
In early May, Volpe suffered an injury to his shoulder that sidelined him for some time. This also took a toll on his numbers. Before the injury he slashed a .233/.326/.442. Post-injury, Volpe was at a slash of .197/.248/.378.
The Shortstop’s Defensive Struggles
The man they chose to fill the shoes of the great Derek Jeter, was not looking entirely hot this year. Volpe’s error circus turned into mayhem within Yankees nation. His inability to make plays was contagious and spiraled.
The shortstop has a .962 fielding percentage so far this year, his lowest in his three seasons in the big leagues. He also has 166 put outs, which is also the lowest within three seasons. The statistic that hurts the most is his league-leading 19 errors in 2025.
Even more on the unfortunate side, were some of these errors leading to Yankees losses. These errors were detrimental to crucial points in some games. Those seem to be the memorable ones.
Volpe Overcoming His Speed Bumps Will Be Huge for the Yankees in the Postseason
It’s only uphill from here for the Yankees shortstop. Volpe can redeem his name by being who he was before the injury, and being a factor in the lineup, both offensively and defensively. To date, he’s currently slashing .211/.273/.397.
Upper .200’s will be key for Volpe, going back to being a gap-to-gap contact hitter in clutch scenarios. The Yankees will need base-to-base guys to put the ball in play and move runners. It would be even better if the shortstop could find his power bat.
This season he’s recorded 19 home runs and 72 RBIs. Another area of contribution would be on the base-pads, where his running game could be a factor. Volpe has stolen 18 bags this season, and 20-plus the previous years.
Last but not least, defensive success! Being fundamentally sound on the infield and just doing his hired job as a shortstop will bring him back in good light and put the Yankees in a better situation to compete. Volpe’s name in the Bronx depends on it, and his status as a Yankees shortstop also strongly depends on it.
Main Photo Credits: Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images
