Anthony Volpe focused on improving, what he can control in return to Yankees

(Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images)

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Anthony Volpe focused on improving, what he can control in return to Yankees

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Anthony Volpe focused on improving, what he can control in return to Yankees

2 / 2

Anthony Volpe focused on improving, what he can control in return to Yankees

(Daniel Kucin Jr.-Imagn Images)

Anthony Volpe returned to the Yankees roster Tuesday after the team placed Jose Caballero on the IL with a fractured finger, but what seemed inevitable before the season started wasn't the case.

The young shortstop underwent offseason shoulder surgery that delayed his 2026 season, but after his rehab assignment was complete, the Yankees decided to keep Volpe in the minors. The decision was made a little easier thanks to Caballero's hot start to the season.

But now that Volpe is back in the Yankees clubhouse, he's ready to get his year started.

"Feels good to be back, see everyone and I’m ready to go," Volpe said after the Yankees' win over the Orioles. "Ready to get going. This is my start. Took a lot to get back here. Now that I’m here, I’m ready to go and take it from here."

Volpe was not in the starting lineup Tuesday as he was still en route to Baltimore when his call-up was made official, but he'll likely get the start in Wednesday's series finale.

He'll look to show off some of the tools that made him the Yankees' top prospect and a promising young big leaguer. He'll definitely want to flush his offensive numbers in the minors this season. In 18 games between Double-A and Triple-A, Volpe is batting .221 with an OPS of .570 to go along with one home run, two doubles and eight RBI.

Along with the emergence of Caballero, Volpe's paltry offensive numbers during rehab didn't help his case to return. The 25-year-old understands the business and is ready to move forward.

"What’s happened has happened," he said. "I put a lot of work to feel this good and come back, and go and help this team. I’ve been able to process, do everything and it’s just back to work. We have a really good club. It feels great to be back. Just take it from here on out."

Volpe said it meant a lot that his teammates, including Aaron Judge, reached out to him during this time and that he's more motivated now that he's back.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before Tuesday's game that Caballero will be the starting shortstop when he returns from the IL, which Caballero said he only plans to be out for the maximum 10 days. Volpe was asked whether he feels he has an opportunity to change the organization's mind about him starting, the shortstop smiled before answering.

"If I learned anything out of all this, there are things I can’t control and things I can," Volpe said. "We have a game tomorrow and that’s what I’m focused on. Throughout this whole thing, it’s been day to day, how to get better, how to improve and that’s what I’m focused on."

Last season was arguably Volpe's worst as a pro. He batted .212 with an OPS of .663, and although his power numbers rose from the previous year, his OBP (.272) and stolen bases (18) were career lows. Not to mention his career-high 19 errors in the field.