Yankees’ Jose Caballero’s 200-mile, late-night drive included Anthony Volpe repercussions

“I don’t feel great right now, but whatever it takes to help the team,” Caballero said.

The Orioles pulled ahead 3-2 in the seventh when Coby Mayo homered with two on against Brent Headrick. They were one out away from winning when Paul Goldschmidt singled with two outs in the ninth off rookie reliever Anthony Nunez.

That’s when manager Aaron Boone inserted Caballero as a pinch-runner.

Suddenly, the Yankees had life.

Caballero led the majors in stolen bases in 2024, he was the AL champ last season and he’s among the league leaders in steals again this year. Also, the Yankees thought they could run on Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman, whose strong throwing arm can be prone to being off target.

“Statistically, he’s not the most accurate throwing catcher,” Caballero said.

What about statistically increasing the odds of Caballero’s finger getting more severely injured on another pickoff throw or slide on the bases?

“He was good to go to run,” Boone said. “There’s always concern when you walk out on the field. You’re taking a risk. He was cleared to do that and in position to do that.”

Caballero also vowed to be more careful with his hands when diving into a base.

“Whenever I hit the bag straight is when what happened (Sunday) can happen,” he said. “It doesn’t happen every time.”

Caballero took first base looking to run and, as usual, he dared the pitcher to make a pickoff throw by taking a big lead.

Nunez threw over once, then again.

“I drew the two throws to first,” Caballero said. “After that, I’ve got to go.”

Of course.

Caballero knew Nunez surely wouldn’t throw over again because, by rule, a third pick-off throw in an at-bat must result in an out or balk that advances the baserunner.

With the count 0-1 to Schuemann, Caballero took off on Nunez’s next pitch, a waist-high fastball that was outside. This was a good pitch to handle for Rutschman, and he got off a quick throw that was right on the money.

Caballero was tagged out by Orioles second baseman Blaze Alexander well before he hit the bag, but second base umpire Edwin Moscoso called him safe. The Orioles challenged, but Caballero didn’t bother to wait on the bag before the call was overturned. He knew he was out.

“He put a perfect throw,” Caballero said. “There’s not much I can do.”

Boone was asked if he had an issue with Caballero trying to force the issue there.

“No, no,” he said with conviction.

Boone was a little agitated after this loss because the Yankees scored only eight runs in four days. Almost half of his regular lineup is hitting just above or under .200 — Jazz Chisholm, Ryan McMahon, Austin Wells and Trent Grisham — plus Spencer Jones is 1-for-11 four games into his big-league career.

The Yankees still lead the league in runs, homers and OPS, but their mini slump has them two games behind the shockingly surging 27-13 Rays in the AL East.

For Tuesday night’s AL East showdown between the Yankees and the Orioles is sitting at 8.5 total runs on BetMGM. Our complete BetMGM Sportsbook review makes it easy to figure out how to use their platform.

Besides that, Boone returned to the Yankees hotel not knowing how Caballero’s MRI would turn out.

Bad news almost certainly would be a “get out of Scranton” card for Volpe, who wouldn’t be returning to the Yankees on good behavior.

A week after Volpe’s rehab assignment from an offseason labrum surgery turned into an option to Triple-A — Caballero stole his job — he was hitting .221 in 18 minor-league games, including .205 in nine with Scranton.

Before heading to New York, Caballero made one prediction that sounded like a guarantee.

“We’ll see what the images say, but I’ll be back here (Tuesday),” he said. “I’m coming right back. I have to help my team.”

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