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The Yankees have announced their lineup for this afternoon’s game, 1:05 PM ET in Baltimore, in which Anthony Volpe will be making his season debut at shortstop and batting 8th today. The Yankees had originally optioned Volpe to Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre, where he was completing rehab games from a shoulder injury he sustained last year and had surgery on this past offseason.

Caballero Was Yankees Starting Shortstop Prior To Injury

However, with the emergence of Jose Caballero, who leads MLB in defensive runs saved for shortstops, and has posted a .259 batting average with 4 home runs and 13 RBI’s, it was something the Yankees could not ignore, hence optioning Volpe to the minors and having Caballero remain the everyday starting shortstop. Caballero, on the other hand, sustained a finger fracture after sliding into second base in Milwaukee this past Sunday, resulting in MRI testing and the Yankees placing him on the 10-day injured list. The corresponding move was the Yankees calling up Volpe.

Volpe wasn’t in the lineup last night but spoke to the media after the Yankees’ 6-2 win and said, “We got games to win….I’m ready to go.” When Volpe was then asked to reflect on his recent demotion and time spent on the Yankees triple-A roster in Scranton, Volpe stated to Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch, “If I’ve learned anything out of all of this, it’s that there are things I can control and things I can’t. We’ve got a game tomorrow, and that’s what I’m focused on. Throughout this whole thing, it’s been day to day, how I can get better and improve”, stated Volpe. 

When Caballero was asked about his 10-day IL stint with the finger fracture, he stated to Yankees beat writer Bryan Hoch, “10 days, that’s the max I’m talking, nine days to go now”, stated Caballero. Bryan Hoch then asked Boone about whether Caballero is back as the Yankees’ starting shortstop once he’s fully healed up and healthy. Boone responded to Hoch, stating; He’s played as well as anyone out there, so that would be my expectation”, stated the Yankees manager.

Volpe Needs To Prove Himself With The Yankees

It’s no secret that Anthony Volpe’s first three seasons in New York, dating back to his call-up in 2023, have been rather disappointing to say the least. Volpe has never posted an above .666 OPS in his career and has struggled to hit big league pitching consistently. He also had a massive defensive regression at shortstop in 2025, ranking 4th among all players in errors (19).

Volpe then had surgery last offseason in October due to issues he had with a torn labrum that occurred on May 3rd after diving for a ball against Tampa Bay at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees gave Volpe two separate cortisone shots, and they sidelined him from September 10-14 after the injury worsened on September 7th. Volpe is now fully healthy and, in his own words, “ready to go”. But with Caballero working his way back from an injury himself as fast as possible, the clock is ticking on Anthony Volpe to either show up or step aside again once Caballero is ready to play.

From a Yankees standpoint, they have been plenty patient with his development, as Volpe will now be entering his fourth season with the club. This shortstop conversation will be something to follow for the next several weeks as the Yankees try to reclaim first place in the AL East.