Anthony Volpe Makes Admission After Yankees Game

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Segun Ajayi | Last updated May 26, 2026 2:09 PM ET

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe delivered another big moment for the Yankees on Monday night, driving in the winning runs in a 4-3 comeback victory over the Kansas City Royals.

The Yankees entered the ninth inning trailing 3-2 after Bobby Witt Jr. gave Kansas City the lead with a solo home run in the eighth. New York responded in the final inning, loading the bases before Volpe lined a two-run single into left field to put the Yankees back in front.

The hit proved to be the difference as New York secured its 12th straight victory against Kansas City dating back to last season. After the game, Volpe said his focus was simply helping the team find a way to win.

“It just felt great to contribute and help the team win — that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do…” Volpe said, according to Yankees Beat writer Greg Joyce on X.

Anthony Volpe: “It just felt great to contribute and help the team win – that’s all I’ve ever wanted to do. That was all I wanted to do when I was working and grinding to come back. ... You do it for this, for the guys."
— Greg Joyce (@GJoyce9) May 26, 2026

Volpe has continued to play an important role in the Yankees’ lineup during his fourth Major League season. The 25-year-old shortstop entered Monday batting .267 with eight home runs, 31 RBI, 14 stolen bases, and a .752 OPS across 53 games this season.

His performance came only days after the Yankees decided to keep him on the Major League roster while sending top prospect Spencer Jones back to Triple-A. New York’s offense struggled for most of the night before the late rally.

The Yankees scored their first two runs in the second inning and were largely held quiet afterward until Volpe’s game-winning hit in the ninth. Aaron Judge continued his strong season despite the low-scoring game.

The Yankees captain finished with two hits and raised his batting average to .369, which remains among the best marks in Major League Baseball. On the mound, Will Warren gave the Yankees a solid outing. The rookie right-hander pitched six innings, allowing two runs on three hits while striking out three batters.

Warren lowered his ERA to 3.86 through 11 starts this season. Tim Hill earned the win in relief after throwing a scoreless eighth inning, while David Bednar recorded his 12th save of the season in the ninth. The Yankees improved to 32-22 with the victory and remained in second place in the American League East standings.

New York continues to chase the division-leading Tampa Bay Rays while staying ahead of both the Toronto Blue Jays and Baltimore Orioles. The win also continued the Yankees’ strong run against Kansas City.

New York has consistently found success in the matchup over the past two seasons, and Monday’s comeback added another close victory to that streak. The Yankees will try to secure the series win when they return to the field for Game 2 against the Royals on Tuesday night at Kauffman Stadium.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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