Yankees' Anthony Volpe remains on rehab assignment, decision to come Sunday on what's next for shortstop

The Yankees decided to keep Anthony Volpe on his minor-league rehab assignment for three more days and stick with highly productive Jose Caballero at shortstop before their 7-2 victory over Baltimore in front of 41,239 on Friday night at the Stadium.

Volpe, making his way back from surgery to repair the labrum in his left shoulder, will remain with Double-A Somerset through the weekend and will be reevaluated after Sunday, Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.

Caballero’s torrid play of late definitely has removed any urgency to make a change, and it continued against the Orioles. He hit a solo home run and Ben Rice had a three-run shot in a four-run second inning to give the Yankees a 5-1 lead.

Caballero is batting .358 with three homers and six stolen bases in his past 15 games. Boone said he has been impressed by his play in the field, and he made another gem to snag Adley Rutschman’s sharp ground ball in the fourth inning.

Will Warren gave up two runs (one earned) and struck out nine in 6 1⁄3 innings to improve to 4-0 with a 2.39 ERA and Cody Bellinger, Amed Rosario and Aaron Judge also drove in runs for the Yankees. Former Met Pete Alonso hit a solo homer for Baltimore.

“[Caballero’s play] complicates it a little bit, clearly,” Boone said. “Jose’s earned opportunities and been a key part of our club here and a part of our success here to start out the season . . . It’s just an opportunity to give Anthony more playing time through the weekend, and we’ll see where we are when we look up on Sunday.”

It’s not as if Volpe’s performance in minor-league games is the reason for the delay. He was batting .303 in 10 games and Boone said, “I think he’s ready. Look . . . he’s only played [10] games and spring training is a lot longer than that . . . I don’t think it hurts to have him continue to play regularly.

“Anthony’s in a pretty good spot,” he added. “Because we feel like he’s going to be a big part of this team, we just want — when the time comes — to give him the best opportunity to be successful.”

Sunday will be the final day of Volpe’s 20-day rehab window and will require a decision. To keep him in the minors, the Yankees would have to option him. In the highly unlikely event the club leaves him in the minors for an additional 20 days, it could have an impact on Volpe’s major-league service time and how soon he reaches free agency.

Returning Volpe to the active roster would not necessarily mean relegating Caballero to the bench. After he was acquired at the trade deadline last season, the Yankees used him at every infield position except first base along with both corner outfield spots. He could stay in the lineup and give others a day off or take a turn at DH.

Caballero has not been doing fielding exercises anywhere except shortstop of late but said if he again becomes a utility player, “I’m fine — and if we win games, I am more happy.”

Martian on the mend

Outfielder Jasson Dominguez not only avoided going on the injured list, but Boone said there was a chance he could be an option off the bench Friday night (he did not play). Dominguez was removed from Wednesday’s game in Texas after getting hit on the left elbow. After X-rays taken then were inconclusive, he had a CT scan in New York that Boone said was “clean.”

“He was much improved yesterday, much improved today, so I think we think we avoided something there,” Boone said before first pitch. “He’ll go through pregame today and do all his baseball activities and see where we’re at.”

Rehab updates

Boone said Carlos Rodon (elbow surgery) is scheduled to make one more start in his minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before rejoining the Yankees’ rotation and that Gerrit Cole (Tommy John surgery) will make the fourth start in his minor-league rehab assignment on Tuesday for Class A Hudson Valley.

By Roger Rubin

roger.rubin@newsday.com@rogrubin

Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.