Yankees move Anthony Volpe into leadoff spot
Anthony Volpe #11 of the Yankees prepares to bat during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, Apr. 10, 2024. Credit: Jim McIsaac
Since the season started, the Yankees have marveled at three forces of nature: an earthquake, the solar eclipse, and Anthony Volpe.
Neither of the first two had any lasting effect on the Yankees. But Volpe’s hot start earned the second-year player a new spot in the batting order: leadoff.
Manager Aaron Boone replaced struggling Gleyber Torres with Volpe for Wednesday’s series finale against the Marlins at Yankee Stadium.
Volpe, who is batting .372 with two home runs, six RBIs and a 1.041 OPS, went 1-for-3 with two walks in the Yankees’ 5-2 loss to Miami.
Torres, who went 0-for-2 with two walks and two strikeouts from the sixth spot, is batting .192 with two RBIs and a .526 OPS.
In his rookie season, Volpe hit in every spot in the order and overall hit .209 with a .666 OPS.
He had the most plate appearances (123) in the leadoff spot, hitting .191 with a .622 OPS. Next was the nine-spot (112 PAs), in which he hit .212 with a .647 OPS.
Volpe’s best regular batting order position was eighth. In 109 plate appearances, he hit .273 with an .846 OPS.
Boone said he made the move against lefthander Ryan Weathers more to take the pressure off Torres than to reward Volpe for his hot start.
As for the 22-year-old Volpe, Boone said: “Even though Anthony's young, he's one of those guys I don't worry about being affected by different things. Obviously, love his at-bats, so comfortable having them up there.
“I think when we look up 10 years from now he's going to be a guy that hits at the top of the order, whether it's 1, 2, 3. He's going to be that guy. Could be something here long-term, but keep it fluid.”
Top prospect Jones yet to play
Top prospect Spencer Jones, who wowed the Yankees in spring training, has yet to play for Double-A Somerset this season because of what the Yankees are calling a stiff neck.
Jones missed the Patriots' first four games with the injury and was not in the lineup for Wednesday's game, which was postponed by rain.
Jones, a 22-year-old lefthanded-hitting centerfielder, flashed his speed and power in his first big-league spring training. He hit .444 with a 1.305 OPS and one home run – a 470-foot behemoth in his first at-bat -- in 13 big-league exhibition games. Jones earned the James P. Dawson award as the top Yankees rookie in spring training.
Jones also went 3-for-4 with two home runs in the Yankees’ inaugural “spring breakout” game against Toronto prospects.
The Yankees reportedly missed out on trades for pitchers such as Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease before the season because they refused to include Jones.
Manager Aaron Boone said on Wednesday that he did not know when Jones would return to the Double-A Somerset lineup. General manager Brian Cashman did not respond for a request for comment.
Jones, who is 6-6, has drawn comparisons to Aaron Judge.
“I think Jonesy — he came up here and impressed a lot of people and had a great spring,” Judge said during spring training. “He probably hit one of the farthest balls a lot of guys have seen early in camp. I'm excited for him and his future, man. I'm excited for what's to come for him. He’s going to be a special player, that's for sure.”
Trainer’s room (big-league edition)
Gerrit Cole will likely remain in New York during the Yankees’ upcoming road trip to Cleveland and Toronto to continue his throwing program. Cole, who is out with inflammation in his right elbow, played catch on Monday for the first time since his injury popped up in spring training.
“I think he throws [Thursday],” Boone said. “And then another time this weekend.”
DJ LeMahieu (right foot contusion), who took live batting practice on the field on Wednesday, will accompany the Yankees on the trip.
Tommy Kahnle (right shoulder inflammation) is expected to throw a bullpen session on Thursday or Friday.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
