Projecting the Yankees’ Opening Day starting infield

The starting infield the New York Yankees inevitably trot out on Opening Day likely won’t be the preferred combination since they still have Josh Donaldson under contract and aren’t keen on wasting away his salary on the bench.

However, with how Anthony Volpe has been performing lately, manager Aaron Boone will have difficulty keeping him in the minor-league system. Volpe has been lights out across 28 at-bats this spring training, posting nine hits, six runs, two homers, two RBIs, and three stolen bases. He’s hitting .321 with a .424 OBP and 1.103 OPS.

At the end of the day, Volpe is a future starter, and the only player standing in front of him is Gleyber Torres at second base, who could inevitably end up being traded over the next few months.

Nonetheless, the Yankees are trying to maximize their dollar and maintain service time manipulation, so I wouldn’t expect to see Volpe on the OD roster despite the fact he has certainly earned it.

Projecting the Yankees’ Opening Day starting infield:

1B: Anthony Rizzo

Rizzo was scratched over the weekend from the lineup, dealing with a “cranky” back issue that is considered chronic. Rizzo, who signed a two-year, $40 million extension with a 2025 club option this offseason, is set as the team’s starting first baseman moving forward.

Rizzo hit .224 with a .338 OBP last season, including a career-high 32 homers and 75 RBIs. With the MLB banning the shift, expect to see Riz-dog collect more base hits and increase his on-base percentage. His Steamer Projections have him hitting .251 with a .348 OBP, 27 HRs, and 81 RBIs.

Rizzo is one of the team’s more consistent players, and the essential lefty slugger capitalizes on the short right porch in Yankee Stadium.

2B: Gleyber Torres

As mentioned before, Torres will likely have his starting job at second base cemented until the Yankees find a good time to move him and plug a position of weakness.

Torres is too good to have sitting on the bench, especially after a bounce-back 2022 season that saw him hit .257 with a .310 OBP, 24 homers, and 76 RBIs. Defensively, he had one of his most efficient seasons at second base, enjoying a 115 wRC+ and 2.7 WAR. However, he is the roadblock stopping Volpe from getting promoted, so the Bombers have no choice but to move him and elevate their No. 1 prospect eventually.