Temporarily "Benched" Volpe, Yankees Manager Has a Purpose: He Remains the Starting Shortstop

Anthony Volpe, the New York Yankees' primary shortstop, has not started for the second consecutive game, raising questions about whether the coaching staff still considers him a starter. In response, Yankees manager Aaron Boone clarified that Volpe will return to the starting lineup tomorrow and explained the reasoning behind temporarily "benching" him.

In today's home game against the Washington Nationals, the Yankees again started José Caballero at shortstop. With Volpe coming off the bench for two straight games, many have wondered if the coaching staff still views him as the team's main shortstop.

Before today's game, Yankees manager Boone made it clear that the team still regards Volpe as their primary shortstop and hopes this brief "cooling off" period will help him overcome a prolonged slump.

During his rookie season in 2023, Volpe not only won the American League Gold Glove at shortstop but also recorded 21 home runs and 24 stolen bases, with a batting average of .209. Last year, his average rose to .243, but this season he has faced an unprecedented slump. Since June 15, his batting average has dropped to .160, and he has committed 10 fielding errors during this span, totaling 17 errors this season—the highest in the American League.

This season, Volpe has posted a .208 batting average with 18 home runs, 65 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases. Regarding these stats, Boone believes batting average is not the most crucial factor. "Sometimes people expect a speedy shortstop to hit at a certain level or accomplish specific things. But good players come in many forms. He has a lot of talent and has shown flashes of brilliance. What Anthony needs now is consistency and to reduce his ups and downs."