Finding a suitable replacement for Derek Jeter after his retirement 10 years ago was a major problem for the Yankees. The solution at the time was Didi Gregorius, who spent five seasons in New York and was mediocre at best. It appears, though, that the Yankees have finally identified their franchise shortstop.
Is There Another Excellent Shortstop for the Yankees?
Anthony Volpe was selected by the Yankees with the thirtyth choice in the 2019 draft, coming out of high school. The now 23-year-old made his Bronx debut last season, winning a gold glove, after just three minor league seasons. It appears that he might win his second in 2024.
Despite being a defense specialist, Volpe has displayed bursts of incredible hitting and lightning-fast reflexes. He’s slashing.359/.369/.656 with 9 XBH and 12 runs scored since the All-Star break. With 20 stolen bases, he is also tied for 19th in the Majors.
But throughout his brief career, Volpe has seen plenty of setbacks, especially with his bat. Will Volpe stay an above-average hitter with an exceptional glove, or does he have the ability to reach even greater heights?
Quick Improvement
Though the rookie shortstop has only played in 271 big league games, he has already demonstrated that he can make adjustments at the plate. He hit 21 home runs in 2023 as a rookie, but his batting average of.209 and his 167 strikeouts were more impressive.
Volpe set out to level up his swing path throughout the summer. He put more emphasis on smoothing out his bat and hitting the ball to all parts of the field than on uppercutting and lifting the ball. Prior to the season commencing, James Rowson, the new hitting coach, expressed his belief that little adjustments to Volpe’s swing would enable him to perform to the best of his abilities:
He had begun the process of attempting to ensure that he entered the zone early, stayed there for a considerable amount of time, and didn’t worry as much about lifting the ball.He can use the entire field and all of his talents due of that swing route, which truly suits him.
It appears that his efforts have paid off thus far. With the exception of home runs, Volpe’s hitting statistics have improved in practically every category. Despite his inconsistent play, he has been at least mediocre this season (OPS+ of 99).
Defense of the Hall of Fame
Even if Volpe’s batting average was below.200, his defense alone would warrant a position in the lineup. Volpe and Ke’Bryan Hayes were tied for fifth place in baseball in 2023 in terms of defensive WAR (2.4). Even if that percentage is lower in 2024, he has still witnessed a sharp increase in his defensive stats and a handful of highlight-reel plays.
Strangely enough, Volpe was praised more for his hitting abilities than his glove when he initially broke into the Major Leagues. But it’s clear today that the Yankees’ infield depends on his outstanding fielding. Furthermore, Volpe is under considerably less pressure to be the Yankees’ starting infield defender now that Jazz Chisholm has assumed responsibility at third base.
The Attitude of Yankees
Volpe, who is only 23 years old, has demonstrated the dignity and respect that come with being the Yankees’ shortstop. He exudes integrity, which is a crucial quality of a great baseball player. He already has a strong bond with the Yankees because he was a fan of the team growing up in New Jersey. In the coming years, unless anything changes with him and the front office, a long-term agreement seems advantageous to both parties.
Final Word
Anthony Volpe has the makings of a great shortstop, even though his career is only getting started. At just 23 years old, he still has plenty of opportunity to improve his batting and continue to have strong at-bats, as he has shown lately. With his exceptional speed and fielding, he has the potential to be one of baseball’s best shortstops.
