Yankees Change Course With Anthony Volpe After Disastrous Game Against the Blue Jays

For the first time in 2025, the Yankees have dropped Anthony Volpe into the ninth spot in the batting order, a clear strategic shift from manager Aaron Boone to ease pressure on the young shortstop.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t a foreign spot for Volpe. 

Over his three-season career, he’s started in the ninth hole 42 times, though most of his plate appearances have come batting sixth or seventh. That balance highlights Boone’s move: keeping Volpe in the lineup while providing a less pressurized environment in which to regroup.

Volpe’s offensive struggles have mounted. 

He enters Tuesday’s game batting around .214 with an OPS hovering under .700. He’s slumping well below the expectations set by his promising rookie and sophomore seasons. His defense hasn’t offered a reprieve either. Leading the American League with 12 errors, Volpe has been the focus of criticism for miscues ranging from misplayed grounders to errant throws.

Boone doesn’t generally like to do this, but he has clearly recognized that Volpe needs to have some pressure taken off his shoulders right now. The screams for him to lose his job are growing louder, and clearly, he’s starting to feel them. 

While it remains to be seen how long this adjustment will last, placing Volpe at the bottom of the order is a balancing act. The Yankees' only backup shortstop is Oswald Peraza, who is an automatic out in the lineup, and so he cannot really bench Volpe. This way, Boone is protecting his confidence while keeping him engaged in the field. Boone continues to show faith in Volpe’s potential, but for now, the ninth hole provides a temporary buffer for a player still finding his footing.