The Anthony Volpe Experiment as Yankees Shortstop is Over

The Anthony Volpe Experiment as Yankees Shortstop is Over marks a turning point for New York’s in-house assessment of the position. Volpe, the Bronx native who won the job four seasons ago, began this season on the injured list after shoulder surgery and spent time in the minors before being recalled when Jose Caballero was sidelined by a fractured finger. He started strong, batting .281 with a 156 wRC+ in his first 10 games, but since May 27 he has slumped to .154 over 12 games with one extra-base hit and a 12 wRC+. His hard-hit rate dropped to 30%, exit velocity sits at 85.1 mph, and several metrics have fallen. Manager Aaron Boone has called some struggles unlucky, but the numbers show a disappointing trend. Over four seasons, Volpe’s career OPS+ stands at 83, ranking him near the bottom among 37 qualified shortstops; he sits 34th in average and on-base percentage and 25th in slugging, with the sixth-most strikeouts (491) and a weak BABIP. Caballero’s emergence at short leaves Volpe in a contentious but still active role, driven by injuries and organizational needs.