Aaron Boone's words on Anthony Volpe should worry Yankees fans

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Aaron Boone's words on Anthony Volpe should worry Yankees fans

By Ernesto Cova | Last updated May 19, 2026 2:49 PM ET

Like clockwork, the New York Yankees are desperate for some momentum after a strong start to the season.

The Bronx Bombers went 2-7 on their nine-game road trip, including a series loss vs. the bottom-feeding New York Mets.

Of all the players who could've put the team on their backs to straighten the course of the ship, not many people saw the ever-struggling Anthony Volpe. However, after going 2-for-4 with two stolen bases in a 7-6 win over the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, it sounds like manager Aaron Boone is ready to roll with the young shortstop.

Aaron Boone praises Anthony Volpe after another strong game

"Anthony did a really good job of getting those two bags... More good at-bats; he's -- for the most part -- controlling the strike zone, and I feel like it's been four days of some really good at-bats," Boone said postgame (h/t YES Network).

Boone discusses Volpe's offensive contributions and controlling the strike zone, rallying to come out on top. pic.twitter.com/XOkV0OSJkh
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 19, 2026

Of course, this all sounds way too familiar. For years, the Yankees have hoped Volpe will take a leap and become their next superstar shortstop, but to no avail. He's not a good defensive player, and while he seems to be hot at the plate right now, history suggests he might be due for some major regression.

The Yankees brought him back from the minors as he was finally healthy, and Jose Caballero suffered an injury of his own, but he's making the most of every opportunity. Volpe is slashing .308/.550/.462 with three RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases.

That said, the Yankees can't afford to just give him his job back once Caballero is healthy again. He was holding down the fort with some elite defense, even if he's not that big a factor at the plate. The Yankees' decision to double down on Volpe has come back to haunt them way too many times in the past.

And unless he's finally ready to take the next step in his development and play consistent ball and avoid fielding errors, this never-ending confidence in him may lead to another disappointing campaign in the Bronx.

Ernesto Cova

Ernesto is a bilingual (English-Spanish) sports writer with over eight years of experience covering major leagues such as the NBA, NFL, and MLB. Ernesto’s work focuses on providing insightful, up-to-date coverage of sports, blending his expertise in sports psychology with a passion for analyzing player performance, team dynamics, and trade developments across various sports leagues

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