The New York Yankees are shaking things up as they look to snap a four-game losing streak, bringing back shortstop Anthony Volpe from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre just a week after sending him down. The move came before Tuesday night's game against the Baltimore Orioles, with the team placing infielder José Caballero on the 10-day injured list due to a broken right middle finger.
Volpe's demotion was brief, but the Yankees hope his time in the minors has prepared him to provide a much-needed spark. "He's had a number of at-bats and a lot of reps down there, kind of like a more than full spring training," manager Aaron Boone said. "So hopefully, he's ready to go and come up here and be a spark for us."
The 25-year-old shortstop arrived at the ballpark around game time and was in the dugout during the early innings, with Max Schuemann starting at shortstop for a second straight game. Boone made it clear that Volpe will see the majority of playing time at shortstop while Caballero recovers. "Yeah, I would expect him to," Boone said. "I would expect Anthony to play a lot."
Volpe, a Gold Glove winner as a rookie in 2023, has been working his way back from off-season surgery. He underwent a procedure on October 14 to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, which has impacted his performance at the plate. After beginning a 20-day minor league rehab assignment on April 14, he was optioned to the RailRiders on May 3, having hit .250 (11 for 44) with one home run and six RBIs in 13 minor league games.
His stint at Scranton saw him go 4 for 25 (.167) with two doubles and two RBIs in five games, bringing his overall minor league stats this season to a .221 average with one homer and eight RBIs across 18 games. Since his optional assignment lasted less than 20 days, he will receive major league service time for that period, keeping him on track for free agency after the 2028 World Series.
Volpe was the Yankees' starting shortstop from 2023 to 2025 but struggled at the plate, hitting .222 with 52 home runs, 192 RBIs, and 70 stolen bases over three seasons. His .212 average last year ranked 144th among 145 qualified hitters, as his play was hampered after he injured his left shoulder on May 3. The Yankees are hoping a refreshed Volpe can help turn their fortunes around.