Yankees' Anthony Volpe addresses possible demotion to minor leagues
New York Yankees rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe isn't focusing on his big-league status amid rumors suggesting he could soon be demoted to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
"It’s tough enough to play as it is, so I’m just trying to prepare and get ready every day to just give my best," Volpe told reporters following Sunday's 4-1 win at the Los Angeles Dodgers, per Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com.
Volpe spoke after he went two-for-four with a two-run home run in the series finale to improve his overall average to an unimpressive .193. The 22-year-old has nine homers and 26 RBIs in 61 games this season.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone insisted last month he wasn't worried about Volpe's batting stats at that time and praised the prospect after he went deep in the top of the ninth inning of Sunday's victory.
"Big-time AB right there to give us some breathing room," Boone said of Volpe's blast. "I thought his at-bats were better. It was good to see him smoke a base hit earlier in the game and then really lean on one to finish it off."
Volpe beat out both Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswald Peraza to win the starting shortstop job ahead of Opening Day. As Ryan Chichester noted for Audacy, Peraza is batting .324 with 10 home runs in Triple-A.
Reigning American League Most Valuable Player Aaron Judge campaigned this past spring for Volpe to earn the full-time gig. The Yankees captain made it known Sunday he's impressed Volpe is "competing" through disappointing plate appearances.
"I feel like he’s not taking his at-bats out on defense," Judge said of Volpe. "I feel like a lot of guys that age, and even myself at 22 years old … I’d probably be taking a couple of my bad days at the plate out on defense. He shows up every single day and he’s trying to make plays. He’s still diving and doing the little things. When they called him up, there were going to be some bumps and bruises along the way. I think the organization, and everyone knew he was the kind of guy who could handle adversity and take it head-on. That’s what he’s done all year."
It probably doesn't hurt that the Yankees improved to 36-25 following two wins at the Dodgers. New York nevertheless began Monday sitting in third place in the AL East standings and trailing the first-place Tampa Bay Rays by six games.
The Yankees open a three-game home series against the Chicago White Sox (26-35) on Tuesday evening. Boone's comments indicate he'll have Volpe in the lineup for at least that contest.
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