Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe’s Struggles Draw Advice From a Surprising Source

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Kristie Ackert | Last updated Jun 20, 2025 1:13 PM ET

Anthony Volpe’s bat has cooled off, and the heat is rising.

Over the past 14 days, the Yankees' shortstop is hitting .205/.255/.341 with a .596 OPS in 44 at-bats. He’s recorded just nine hits, including three doubles and a home run. His recent numbers may not scream bust, but they’re far from the expectations that followed him into the Bronx.

While some critics—like WFAN’s Sal Licata—have labeled him a disappointment, it was a fellow former Yankee who delivered the more interesting perspective.

“Brother, we gotta get off social media,” Clint Frazier said on Thursday's 'Foul Territory' podcast. “Just trust what got you there… pressure does one of two things—it creates diamonds or it busts pipes. Find a way to be that diamond in the rough, the Yankees are hoping for.”

Frazier knows the terrain. He was once a hyped-up prospect himself, dealt to New York in the 2016 Andrew Miller trade and expected to become a cornerstone outfielder. Instead, he found himself clashing with the media and the organization’s rules while never fully finding his footing. His advice to Volpe isn’t about swing mechanics. It’s about survival.

“I know that Volpe is in a tough situation,” Frazier said. “Jeter was obviously there. There’s a lot of big shoes he’s having to fill.”

The problem? That pressure isn’t going to let up. George Lombard Jr., the Yankees’ top infield prospect, is flashing serious defensive tools and his bat is coming along in Double-A. If Volpe doesn’t start producing consistently, the infield conversation could shift next season.

Yankees fans have already fallen in love wit Lombard, just like they did Volpe years ago.

Volpe still has time to prove himself. But in New York, time gets short quickly. The noise gets louder. Frazier knows this all too well.

He shared a blunt message Yankees GM Brian Cashman gave him about life in the big leagues. Frazier used it Thursday to describe the end of his career.

"I remember Brian Cashman told me (once), 'Hey, man, you get a lot of hits, you'll have a lot of friends.' And I started looking around, and there wasn't a lot of friends."

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

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