Anthony Volpe has served his new fate in baseball this year. The New York Yankees demoted the shortstop to the minor leagues. His prolonged struggle illustrated concern for the infielder; concern that doubts his future in pinstripes. Why is that?
Should This Yankees Shortstop Get Another Chance in the Big Leagues?
For years, the Bronx has been spoiled with infielders who could contribute both offensively and defensively. The former Yankees captain left a huge footprint in the clay at 161 street. Derek Jeter Stats was a staple for the club.
Upon his retirement, there was no exact replacement projected until the name “Volpe” rose to prominence. The shortstop was a first-rounder in 2019, drafted by the Yankees. He carried a great prospect profile and also came with expectations.
The Yankees prodigy has been in the Major Leagues since 2023, and to say the least, his career has been uneventful. Overall, Volpe’s output has been disappointing year by year. To earn a potential return, he needs to recognize his faults and change his game to focus on production.
Volpe: Numbers Tell a Story That Illustrates His Struggles
Brian Cashman saved the embarrassment for Volpe, as he expressed his reasoning for keeping him in the Minor Leagues. The Yankees’ general manager advised that José Caballero’s performance was what was keeping the spot open, and not any negative regarding Volpe.
Cashman seems like he didn’t want to change the wheel or fix something that’s not broken. The club sits with one of the best records in the American League, especially in the toughest division in baseball. Why shake the boat?
Volpe’s 2025 season was collectively atrocious. The Yankees shortstop finished last season with a .212 batting average, a .272 on-base percentage, and a .391 slugging percentage. He recorded 19 home runs, 114 hits, 36 extra-base hits, 72 RBIs, and scored 65 times.
The Breakdown
One may ask what’s wrong with these numbers; the answer is simply a lack of production and quality at-bats for the shortstop. In 2025, he finished with a career-high 10.5%-barrel percentage and an AIR percentage of 58.4%.
Aside from his lack of offense and production, the Yankees’ infielder was horrible at his defensive position. This got to the point where he was expected to commit errors, overthrow first base, fumble a groundout, and make a “five hole” error.
The infielder was not only slandering his offensive opportunities, but he was also neglecting the defensive end. In 2025, he played 153 games at shortstop, with 516 defensive chances, 171 putouts, 326 assists, and a league-leading 19 errors.
His defensive skills were unreliable, causing constant defensive lapses and leading to losses in a game. Volpe finished with a .963 fielding percentage, compared to a league average of .975.
His Replacement
Brian Cashman and his office agreed to keep Volpe down in the minors, as Caballero was their guy, and was doing the job well. The shortstop, Caballero, was not meant to be the long-term replacement, but his output earned him the shot.
In 40 games played and 135 at-bats, Caballero recorded a spectacular 35 hits, seven extra-base hits, four home runs, 13 RBIs, and scored 18 times. He also stole 13 bases, contributing to runners in scoring position.
Caballero seemed to be the all-around guy the Yankees could work with; however, that may no longer be the case.
Does Volpe Have a Chance?
On the slide back to a base, Caballero suffered a finger injury on his right hand, which has sent him back to New York for tests. Airing on the lack of optimism, the Yankees may be going right back to Volpe.
This could be the big break that Volpe needs to turn things around. His short game needs to be a priority, staying gap-to-gap, working up the middle, and getting on base. Volpe needs not to try to do too much.
Getting on and getting over should be his overall goal. The shortstop has the speed and ability to place himself in scoring position forcefully. Volpe scored 18 bags last season, 70 in total in his career.
The shortstop needs to push all the buttons and envelopes if his chance emerges once again. His need to impress is there, to regain the trust defensively and offensively.
Main Photo Credits: Alexander Lewis / MyCentralJersey / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
