Anthony Volpe’s reset isn’t working amid Yankees' recent surge

The New York Yankees' 11-2 romp over the Washington Nationals on Wednesday serves as a potent reminder of the team’s huge offensive upside. But while the game (and the series, for that matter) was nothing short of a one-sided slugfest, there is one bat that did not join in on the Yankees' landslide.

Of the starting nine players in the lineup, Anthony Volpe was the only hitter that did not reach base (Jose Caballero was the only player off the bench, but didn’t make a plate appearance). Volpe went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts on the day.

Over the weekend, the 24-year-old shortstop was benched after committing his 17^th error on the year. Both Volpe’s bat and glove have been a large part of the team’s overall weakness. In an attempted “reset,” manager Aaron Boone decided to keep him out of the lineup for two games, on Sunday and Monday, instead opting to play Caballero. However, it appears the reset is not working.

Volpe has gone 0-for-9 since returning on Tuesday, a sign that nothing has changed since Sunday. He has not recorded a hit or a walk since Aug. 19, hitting .000/.000/.000 in his last seven games (23 at-bats). This brings his overall slash line down to .204/.269/.393 with 18 home runs on the year.

Having been a top prospect, there isn’t any point in denying that Volpe has talent. Both this year, and in his rookie year of 2023, Volpe has showcased 20+ home-run power. He also won a Gold Glove in his rookie campaign and his plus speed has resulted in over 20 stolen bases a season in his first two years. However, at his current pace, Volpe has been unplayable.

Despite his immense struggles, Boone is still in Volpe’s corner, again re-iterating that he is their starting shortstop. But at some point, if only for the rest of this year, the Yankees need to make a decision on Volpe, whether he should be moved to the bench or not.

Caballero, who is hitting .281/.385/.500 with two home runs and seven stolen bases since donning pinstripes, seems to offer much more upside than Volpe this year, both at the plate and shortstop. 

With just 29 games left in the regular season, there isn’t much time left for a breakthrough. If he is unable to drastically improve, it may prove to be a much smarter idea to make Caballero the starting shortstop for the postseason.