Volpe’s focus must be on improving, not Opening Day roster
You can’t outrun expectations in New York. Especially when you’re considered the Yankees’ shortstop of the future.
Anthony Volpe, MLB Pipeline’s No. 5 overall prospect, is embarking on his long-shot journey to become the Bombers’ 2023 Opening Day shortstop. After receiving a phone call from GM Brian Cashman in the offseason informing the 21-year-old that he has a chance at winning the job, per Yankees play-by-play voice Michael Kay, expectations have only heightened this spring.
Volpe, along with fellow prospect Oswald Peraza, serves as the primary reason for the Yankees skipping out on two elite free-agent shortstop classes in 2021 and 2022 due to how highly touted he has been throughout his minor league career. The New Jersey native has also drawn some comparisons to a former Yankee shortstop.
“I guess it’s humbling to hear [the Derek Jeter comparisons],” Volpe said Tuesday at George M Steinbrenner Field in Tampa. “But I mean, I grew up a huge fan of Derek Jeter and I think there is never going to be another player like him or person like him in New York or anywhere really. So it’s obviously very humbling to hear but I think it’s pretty overexaggerated.”
The lofty comparisons and expectations are a culmination of a few things. The Bombers’ long-term faith — as displayed by their free agency behavior — in their 2019 first-round pick and the results he’s seen in his two full minor league seasons.
The shortstop was named Pipeline’s 2021 Minor League Hitting Prospect of the Year after he slashed .294/.423/.604 with 27 homers, 86 RBI and 33 stolen bases in 109 games between Low-a and High-a. Volpe followed up his superb 2021 with another star-studded
season in 2022.
Despite a slow start in Double-a, the right-handed hitter slashed .289/.377/.532 with 16 homers, 48 RBI and 35 stolen bases from May 14 to Sept. 8 earning a promotion to Triple-a in the process. The Yankees’ top prospect was the first minor leaguer to record 20+ homers and 50+ stolen bases in a season since Braves’ legend Andruw Jones in 1995.
Despite this being his first opportunity to break camp with the big league club, this spring doesn’t feel all that different to the shortstop. Volpe
has been in big league camp with the Bombers before and already feels at home despite the pressure of trying to win a job.
“It’s incredible, it’s pretty surreal [to be a part of the Yankees organization],” Volpe said. “But, I felt like I kind of been a part of it the last couple of years...if anything [the pressure] it’s a really big vote of confidence from the organization from the beginning. So, it just feels like to me that everyone’s invested in me [being a first-round pick] and that allows me to play my best.”
With a great spring, Volpe can force himself through the door as manager Aaron Boone has said throughout the first days of spring training. The prospect hopes his talents are called upon
this season in the Bronx.
“That’s the goal, I guess [to get to the MLB this season],” Volpe said. “But it’s super out of my control. So like I said, I just want to improve every day and be the best player I can be. Because at the end of the day, even if I’m playing this year or next year or whatever, I always want to keep improving and keep being a better player so, there’s still a lot more goals to fulfill.”
The shortstop competition between Volpe, Peraza and incumbent Isiah Kiner-falefa is arguably the biggest storyline to watch this spring. Whoever comes out on top will have immense pressure to perform and have an immediate impact on the big league club.