ANTHONY PROVIDES THE RUNS
Volpe comes through for Yanks after much-needed day off Sunday due to tummy trouble
PHOENIX – When the Yankees scratched Anthony Volpe from their Sunday lineup against the Astros, fans of the injury-plagued team understandably started to panic on social media.
It wasn’t until a few minutes later, when a Yankees spokesperson cited an upset stomach for the late absence, that tweeters calmed down. Volpe was one of several Yankees who went on the team’s exhibition trip to Mexico City just before Opening Day, and tummy troubles have affected others who ventured south of the border.
That’s why why pink bottles of Pepto-Bismol and salty snacks like pretzels and crackers have been a common sight in the clubhouse since a portion of the squad returned from Mexico.
“He’s pretty ill,” Aaron Boone said of Volpe after the sweep of the Astros. “We’ll see. He was in the handshake line with a smile on, but it’s been a rough day.”
As for his own health, Boone added, “I think I’m getting there. It hasn’t been the greatest five days. Shaking hands at the end of the day sure helps.”
On Monday, close friend Austin Wells playfully offered a “no comment” when asked how sick Volpe was. However, Volpe admitted to feeling “really bad” before adding “it’s too hard to pinpoint” where his bug came from.
While Volpe, a constant in the lineup during his rookie season, could not play on Sunday, he found himself back at shortstop in the series opener against the Diamondbacks on Monday. In fitting fashion, he provided the runs — or at least a few of them — in a 5-2 win over the defending National League champs.
Volpe’s first at-bat produced a second-inning double. Wells then pushed him to third before a bloop single from Oswaldo Cabrera brought Volpe home. Then came the third inning, when Volpe knocked an RBI single up the middle. Another sac fly from Wells led to a comedy of Diamondbacks errors, which allowed Alex Verdugo and Volpe to score.
After a fifth-inning single, Volpe’s final act resulted in an eighth-inning double.
“Impressive coming off of a rough day for him yesterday,” Aaron Boone said.
Volpe finished the game 4-for-4 with two runs scored, two doubles and an RBI. He is now hitting .571 with a 1.667 OPS, one home run, three RBI, four walks and three strikeouts after the first four-hit game of his young career.
“He worked really hard this offseason and in the spring to tighten up some of the things he wanted to tighten up, and it’s showing right off the bat,” said Wells, who often talks hitting with Volpe. “I think just his work ethic and what he’s able to do when he’s given time to make adjustments, I think it’s one of the best in the game. So for him to have success right away, it’s super awesome. He’s gonna continue to have it. I have no doubt.”
While Monday was Volpe’s best display yet, his three walks on Opening Day first prompted Boone to say, “I think he looks like a way better hitter, period.” That was in comparison to Volpe’s debut season, which saw him hit .209 with a .283 OBP and 167 strikeouts, marks that overshadowed his entrance to the 20-20 club.
Boone’s comment may have struck some as an overreaction to a one-game sample. But on Sunday, the skipper said he’s felt this way since the very first time he saw Volpe at the Yankees’ minor-league complex over the offseason.
The 22-year-old spent the winter revamping his bat path, and Boone noticed immediately.
Asked on Monday what’s changed, Volpe said, “I felt like last year I was hanging back too much. I feel like I’m landing in a good position, my head is over the center of my body, and I feel like I can adjust from there.”
The tweaks — and a year of experience against major-league pitching — have allowed Volpe to make more contact in the early going. Which is exactly what James Rowson expected.
“It buys you a little bit more time,” the Yankees’ new hitting coach explained before Volpe hit .314/.364/.471 over 18 spring training games. “It allows you to see the ball a little longer, allows the ball to get a little closer to you. Ultimately, you do make some better decisions. But I think it also gives you an opportunity to cover more of the strike zone and drive more pitches within the strike zone.”
Now Volpe is a lot more comfortable with his swing. The sophomore said it’s still a work in progress, but his performance is backing up the work he’s put in.
“The rest of my career will be a version of a work in progress,” Volpe said. “But it’s definitely nice to feel like you can cover a lot more pitches and give yourself a chance a lot more.”