Erik Boland: How will Yankees handle Anthony Volpe’s return?
The Yankees’ former on a regular basis shortstop apparently is ready to return to the big leagues.
Anthony Volpe, who underwent left shoulder surgical procedure final October, went 2-for-4 for Double-A Somerset on Wednesday in his tenth rehab recreation. That improved him to 10-for-33 (.303) in his rehab task.
But after a gradual begin, the present on a regular basis shortstop has seemed the a part of one.
Jose Caballero, a 2025 trade-deadline acquisition who sparked the Yankees together with his appreciable skills on the bases and slick glove at a number of positions, is hitting .267 with three dwelling runs, a .713 OPS and 12 steals in 16 tries.
It has been a comparatively clean journey for the Yankees in the case of their roster and hurting out enjoying time.
Yes, there was a mini-flareup right here and there, specifically the early-season platooning of Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt — although supervisor Aaron Boone refused to name it that even because it walked like a platoon and quacked like a platoon. But Rice, slashing .327/.443/.714 with 10 homers, pressured the Yankees to search out different methods to get Goldschmidt reps — which he wants and may get — aside from merely when a “tough” opposing lefthander begins.
With Volpe about to be cleared — maybe as early as friday night when the Yankees open a four-game collection towards the Orioles on the Stadium; if not then, definitely quickly thereafter — the tough-call portion of the 2026 common season will formally start for the membership.
On the floor, it is not all that troublesome. The outdated sports activities mantra a couple of participant not shedding a beginning job to damage comes with the caveat that the injured participant did sufficient to maintain it.
By any goal measure, Volpe’s first three years because the beginning shortstop — which had much more positives than many Yankees followers are keen to credit score him with — don’t match that class. That neither means Caballero will be the on a regular basis reply the remainder of the season nor that Volpe finally will not be.
But beginning shortstop for the Yankees is not a lifetime appointment. And Caballero, who’s 18-for-49 (.367) with two homers, two doubles and 6 steals in his final 14 video games, has finished the whole lot the Yankees might have hoped for.
Are these numbers sustainable? Caballero’s profession so far suggests no. He had a profession .228 batting common and .316 on-base share in his earlier three big-league seasons (2023-25). Still, his efficiency has finished nothing to scream that he wants to come back out of the on a regular basis lineup (though he must dial it down a notch with umpires).
Not surprisingly, the subject is one Boone has little curiosity in addressing till he completely has to. “We’ll see,” he mentioned Wednesday of the plans for Volpe. “He’s playing again today [in Somerset]. We’ll see.”
Pressed on Volpe’s position as soon as he is again, Boone went rinse-and-repeat. “We’ll see,” he mentioned. “It’s Wednesday. He’s playing in Somerset today. We’ll see.”
On April 10, basic supervisor Brian Cashman appeared to make the membership’s intention clear when he was immediately requested: Is Volpe the beginning shortstop when he returns?
“That’s always been the plan,” he mentioned earlier than
virtually reflexively including: “But it’ll ultimately be the manager’s call.”
It’s important to acknowledge that the Yankees spare no effort in casting each resolution concerning the roster and the way it’s deployed, particularly the lineup, as solely Boone’s. They do not wish to be considered as working collaboratively, which they do, the way in which just about each staff does.
Which would not equate to the supervisor as a marionette, full with strings manipulated from above by unseen organizational arms.
Discussions on Volpe-Caballero have been ongoing behind closed doorways, persevering with into Thursday. Not surprisingly, there’s removed from unanimity in the case of opinions.
Boone’s will carry vital weight, simply not the one weight. And whereas there assuredly will be knee-jerk overreaction to no matter name is made, it is very important keep in mind that 5 months of season stay. Volpe beginning at brief on May 1 doesn’t suggest he is there Sept. 1. Same goes for Caballero.
Maybe it is neither. Maybe it is George Lombard Jr., promoted to Triple-A earlier this week. It’s a protracted shot however not a no-shot.
The Yankees appear to be working in a very cold-blooded style this season in a few of their decision-making, and that is to their credit score.
Doesn’t make any of it any much less fascinating.
