Yankees Manager Delivers Anthony Volpe Message Before Playoffs

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Monday that shortstop Anthony Volpe remains a live option at second base as the club prepares for its American League Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox.

The best-of-three series opens Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium. New York finished the regular season 93-68 after its finale against the Baltimore Orioles was washed out by weather and not rescheduled.

Boone spoke with reporters ahead of the postseason and was asked directly about the second-base situation. Jazz Chisholm Jr. is returning from a thumb injury after appearing in a pair of games.

A reporter asked: “Aaron, how are you looking at second base right now? Is it strictly Jazz, or has Volpe done enough that he can make it a platoon?”

Boone replied: “Yeah, it’s one of those things I’m considering. Volpe is very much in play. The platoon stuff is in play there. Obviously Jazz is just coming back from the thumb. He was able to get a couple games in. Would have liked another one or two, but the weather didn’t really cooperate this weekend. So Anthony’s put himself very much in the mix to be a part of the equation.”

Volpe, 25, was the Yankees’ first-round pick in the 2019 draft out of high school. This was his fourth major league season, all spent with New York.

He appeared in 70 games this year and hit .245 with 54 hits, two home runs, 28 RBIs, 24 runs and 12 stolen bases. He walked 25 times and struck out 56 times in 220 at-bats, posting a .321 on-base percentage and .336 slugging percentage.

The infielder played 57 games at shortstop, 12 at second base and one at third base during the regular season. He saw limited action at the hot corner during a recent doubleheader against Baltimore.

Volpe’s most recent notable contribution came Sept. 25, when he delivered a two-run double in the second game of that doubleheader, helping New York to a 6-3 win.

Over his four-year career, Volpe has a .225 batting average with 54 home runs, 220 RBIs and 82 stolen bases in 542 games. He won a Gold Glove at shortstop in 2023.

The Yankees will host the Red Sox, who finished 87-75 and third in the AL East. New York swept Boston in last year’s Wild Card round.

Boone’s comments leave open the possibility of mixing Volpe and Chisholm depending on matchups and Chisholm’s readiness after the abbreviated return.

Volpe’s versatility and recent playing time have kept him in the conversation as the Yankees set their postseason roster and lineup plans.

The club is expected to finalize those decisions before first pitch Tuesday.