Anthony Volpe skipped a step. He went from talented but unrefined rookie to something who quickly — for lack of a better term — became a veteran in year two.
“I feel like I’ve seen a handful of guys his age doing their thing, but not that fast,” Jose Trevino said. “He’s reacting to the game at a different level (from last year), he’s reacting to the adjustments he’s made. From my seat, it’s so fun to watch.
In a rubber game Sunday filled with walks and errors, Volpe had the equivalent of a triple-double. He had three hits. He stole two key bases. And for the second straight day — and the Yankees’ second straight victory — he made the key defensive play as the Yankees beat the Blue Jays 8-3.
“What didn’t he do?” Giancarlo Stanton responded when asked what impressed him about Volpe. “He was everywhere on defense. He throws the ball all over the field. He wreaks havoc on the other team’s bases.
Stanton delivered the biggest blow as the Yankees won a third straight series to open this season against a 2023 playoff team. A few days ago, I wondered in a column how long the Yankees could last with Stanton as his struggles last year carried over into this season with 13 strikeouts in 25 plate appearances. But he had three hits and a short homer on the porch in a 9-8 triumph Saturday night, then a no-doubt grand slam to give the Yankees a 5-1 third-inning lead Sunday.
For the Yankees, part of how good they are depends on the increased supporting cast of Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. Judge and Soto — health permitting — feel like gifts to excel. But are these last few days a sign that Stanton really has the lower half of his back strong and balanced and he’s ready to crush with them?
Can Anthony Rizzo join this mid-range? DJ LeMahieu was on the field and running around the field before Sunday’s game. Gleyber Torres is putting in a lot of time at bat without much to show yet. Alex Verdugo and Austin Wells are left-handed bats, struggling so far early in the season.
But perhaps in all of this, there is no player as vital as Volpe. For what it means in 2024. And what it means moving forward. For what he means at the plate, but also for his potential to become the Yankees’ best all-around player.
“He’s starting to look like a really good all-around, all-around player,” Aaron Boone said.
Volpe had a rough rookie season at the plate, hitting .209 and striking out in 27.9 percent of his plate appearances. He dedicated himself during the offseason to flattening his swing to better reach fastballs upstairs while using the entire field.
Last season, he caught the ball in 45.6 percent of his at-bats when the ball was in play. It’s 26.9 this year, while two of his three singles Sunday were pushed to right field . He struck out in just 18.1 percent of his plate appearances. He is hitting .424 with a 1.092 OPS over 10 games.
During these 2023 struggles, Volpe reinforced already strong feelings about his work ethic and composition within his clubhouse by winning a Gold Glove and stealing 24 bases. But even in these areas there is refinement, maturity, growth. Volpe’s putback and force out to Jurassic second Daniel Vogelbach was key to the Yankees not squandering the entirety of what had been a 9-2 lead Saturday.
On Sunday, with the Yankees leading 6-3, Volpe made a sensational sliding save and appeared to throw out Kevin Kiermaier to open the eighth, preventing the start of a more potential late shot by the Blue Jays. Perhaps the best compliment you can pay a defender is to ask your teammates who they would like to see the ball hit in a huge spot. I think Volpe could win the Yankees vote right now.
Additionally, by giving up much of that big lead on Saturday, the Yankees were forced to use Ian Hamilton and Clay Holmes. Boone wanted to stay away from both on Sunday. And Volpe helped make that possible. He led off the bottom of the eighth with a walk-off single to the opposite field, then stole second and third en route to scoring the first of two Yankees insurance runs in the frame that pushed the lead to 6 -3 to 8-3.
“Those little plays make a huge difference,” Holmes said. “This is the next step for him: those game-changing moments that impact not only today’s game, but tomorrow’s game. This is when you become even more valuable to the team. And clearly, he has it in him.
Volpe is a sophomore who plays like a senior. He’ll be 23 in three weeks and in year two he’ll feel like a veteran.
New York Post
