Volpe is bumped up to top spot after Boone says there was no hurry

On Tuesday, Aaron Boone said that he was in no “real hurry” to hit Anthony Volpe first, even though the manager envisioned him occupying the spot down the road. “There may be a day when he becomes a natural fit up there,” Boone said at the time. “So that’s always in there. I do feel like when we look up in 10 years, that’s where his future is going to be, at the top of the lineup. That’s who he is.”

It took a lot less than 10 years for Volpe to bat first, though, as the shortstop, hitting .375 at the time, found himself at the very top of the lineup on Wednesday against the Marlins. Volpe has mostly hit sixth and seventh this year, though the Yankees experimented with him in the one-hole last season.

Asked to explain the change of course a day later, Boone said it was more about getting Gleyber Torres closer to the middle of the order.

Torres had been leading off, and Boone has been happy with the second baseman’s at-bats. However, the results haven’t been there, so Boone hit Torres sixth on Wednesday.

“I feel like Gleyber’s on the verge of really getting it going,” Boone said. “I do feel the atbats have been good, but I feel like he’s pressed a little bit to get it going in that [leadoff] spot.

“Gleyber’s gonna hit. I really believe Gleyber’s gonna have a big year. Wherever Gleyber is hitting, he’s gonna get it rolling and be a big part of this offense.”

Boone added that he thinks Torres likes leading off. But the 27-year-old entered Wednesday’s game with a .200/.281/.240 slash line, and his worst career numbers have come from the leadoff spot.

Boone countered by noting that Torres hasn’t hit there often.

“I feel like if I left him there over time, he’d be Gleyber Torres and we’d see the results,” Boone said. “I do feel like he’s close to taking off.”

Boone added that he doesn’t want Torres to change his approach when not hitting first. No Yankee had seen more pitches this season, yet Torres has been swinging at first pitches often, so he hasn’t sacrificed aggression from the leadoff spot.

Boone feels Torres is getting good swings off, hitting the ball on a line and having deep at-bats.

Volpe, meanwhile, has benefited from a refined bat path and better swing decisions after hitting .209 with a .283 OBP and 167 strikeouts as a rookie last year. In addition to his .375 average, he woke up with a .444 OBP, .600 SLG, two homers and six RBI on Wednesday.

Boone said he isn’t worried about a new spot in the batting order impacting the 22-year-old. As for whether Volpe will keep leading off, the skipper said, “We’ll see.”

“It could be something here long-term,” Boone said, “but we’ll keep it fluid.”

LOOK IT UP, DAWG

Boone said that he laughed when he first heard Alex Verdugo refer to the Yankees as a “dawgs.” The outfielder has repeatedly used that description, which has led to barking celebrations in the dugout and shirts with pinstriped pups in the clubhouse.

“That’s a fun little mantra that they’ve taken to that they believe is real and what they want to be and what they want to embody,” Boone said, “and so far we’ve seen that.”

Asked what the word meant to Boone, he smiled and replied, “Dawg! Get your Urban Dictionary out.”

In all seriousness, Verdugo, Juan Soto and Marcus Stroman have added some energy and swagger to the Yankees, a team with a reputation for being buttoned up. Boone has embraced the vibe changes, calling them “a little shot in the arm.”

“I’m always a believer: 162 games and 180 days, stretched out even further over spring training, it’s a grind,” Boone explained. “I want guys that are energy givers, not energy suckers, in that room. And that looks a lot of different ways. I’ve played with people that are more outspoken and talkative and bring an energy like that. Some guys just bring a healthy energy that’s a little more subdued. And then there’s guys that suck the energy out of the room. We don’t want that.”

Speaking of Soto, the impending free agent has fit in well. The clubhouse and Yankees fans have embraced him, and the feeling is mutual.

Asked if that could influence Soto’s longterm plans, Boone said, “We’ll see. You never know how those things play out. Hopefully it does.”

REHAB ROUNDUP

DJ LeMahieu (nondisplaced right foot fracture) will travel with the Yankees on their upcoming road trip to Cleveland and Toronto as he continues to progress, per Boone. He took grounders and batting practice at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday.

Gerrit Cole (elbow inflammation) is scheduled to play catch again on Thursday. Boone said the ace is not expected to travel. Cole made 25 throws on Monday and will do roughly the same over his next two catch sessions this week.

Boone added that Tommy Kahnle (delayed throwing program after 2023 shoulder inflammation) will throw a bullpen on Thursday or Friday in Tampa.

Finally, star prospect Spencer Jones has yet to make his season debut at Double-A Somerset after waking up with a stiff neck on Opening