When Derek Jeter retired ten years ago, the Yankees had a big task: finding a viable replacement. At the time, the answer was Didi Gregorius, who was serviceable at best in his five seasons in New York. But now, it seems that the Yankees have found their franchise shortstop.
Do the Yankees Have Another Great Shortstop?
The Yankees drafted Anthony Volpe out of high school with the 30th pick in the 2019 draft. After just three minor league seasons, the now 23-year-old made his debut in the Bronx last season, winning a gold glove in the process. And by the looks of it, he may win his second in 2024.
Though Volpe’s specialty is defense, he has shown flashes of great hitting and wicked speed. Since the All-Star break, he’s slashing .359/.369/.656 with 9 XBH and 12 runs scored. He’s also tied for 19th in the Majors with 20 stolen bases.
But Volpe has seen his fair share of struggles in his short career, particularly with his bat. Does Volpe have the potential to take the next step into greatness, or will he remain an average hitter with an outstanding glove?
Fast Improvement
Though the young shortstop has only played in 271 big league games, he has already shown that he can make adjustments at the plate. As a rookie in 2023, he whacked 21 homers, but this number is overshadowed by a .209 batting average and 167 strikeouts.
In the offseason, Volpe made it his goal to level out his swing path. Instead of uppercutting and lifting the ball, he prioritized flattening out his bat and hitting the ball to all areas of the field. Before the start of the season, new hitting coach James Rowson said that he thought the little tweaks to Volpe’s swing would help him maximize his abilities:
“He had started the process of trying to make sure he got into the zone early, make sure he stayed in the zone long, didn’t worry so much about lifting the ball….That swing path really works for him, because it allows him to use the whole field and take advantage of all his skills.”
So far, it looks like his hard work has come to fruition. Volpe has seen improvement in almost every hitting statistic except for home runs. And though he has been streaky, he has been at least average this season (OPS+ of 99).
Hall Of Fame Defense
Volpe could be hitting sub-.200, and he would still be worthy of a lineup spot for his defense alone. In 2023, Volpe was ranked 5th in baseball in defensive WAR (2.4), tied with Ke’Bryan Hayes. Though that number is not as high in 2024, he has still seen his defensive numbers shoot up and have numerous highlight-reel plays.
Funnily enough, when Volpe first cracked the Majors, he was touted for his hitting skills, not his glove. But now, it’s evident that his excellent fielding is vital to the Yankees’ infield. And since Jazz Chisholm has taken over duties at third, there’s much less pressure on Volpe to be the Yanks’ primary defender in the infield.
The Yankee Attitude
Even at just 23 years old, Volpe has well-exemplified the respect and honor of being the Yankees’ shortstop. He carries himself with integrity, which is a vital mark of being a great baseball player. He grew up in New Jersey as a Yankees fan, so he already has loyalty to the franchise. Unless something changes with him and the front office in the next few years, a long-term deal appears mutually beneficial.
The Last Word
Though his career has just begun, it’s clear that Anthony Volpe has what it takes to be a great shortstop. Still just 23 years old, he has time to work on his hitting and consistently have good at-bats like he has recently. If he can combine that with his superb fielding and speed, he could become one of baseball’s top shortstops.
Main Photo Credits: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
