The New York Yankees have always expected that at some point, Anthony Volpe will develop into an above-average hitter.
Volpe is in his third season with the Yankees now, and he’s done a lot of good things. He won a Gold Glove as a rookie. He’s stolen 26 bases per 162 games. And he hit a grand slam in the World Series. However, the offense has been frustratingly slow to come around.
After a red-hot start to the season through the Yankees’ first 10 games, Volpe has been in free fall. He’s seven for his last 54 dating back to Apr. 7, with just two extra-base hits, no home runs, and 22 strikeouts.
How damaging will it be to the Yankees’ overall outlook if Volpe can’t produce? One writer believes the consequences could be severe.
On Thursday, Empire Sports Media’s Alexander Wilson wrote about Volpe’s recent offensive struggles and broke down how some of his under-the-hood metrics indicated that there wasn’t necessarily an end in sight.
“What’s (most) damaging is his production against anything that bends or floats. Volpe is hitting just .130 against breaking balls and hasn’t logged a single hit against off-speed pitches this year. That’s not just a cold streak — that’s a flashing red light,” Wilson wrote.
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“It’s still early in the season, and Volpe has plenty of time to course-correct. But the cracks are showing, and if he doesn’t find a way to adjust soon, the Yankees may be forced to make a difficult decision — one that could reshape the infield as summer approaches.”
It’s possible Wilson may be hinting at the Yankees considering other options at shortstop, but that’s not how this writer is interpreting the article. However, what does seem clear is that the Yankees’ potential is capped if Volpe can’t give them more at the plate, and their search for offense at the trade deadline could become far more desperate.
Lots of players have broken out at age 24 or later. But Volpe will be halfway through his rookie contract by the end of the season. His future with the Yankees is looking more uncertain month to month, and he’ll eventually run out of time to prove he can become the franchise shortstop he was always promised to be.
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