Anthony Volpe’s return yields immediate boost as Yankees weigh shortstop rotation down stretch
Volpe went 2-for-4 with a double and an RBI in his first start after a second cortisone injection; sustaining the improvement and roster decisions loom with two weeks remaining.
MINNEAPOLIS — Anthony Volpe delivered immediate results in his return to the New York Yankees’ lineup, going 2-for-4 with a double, a walk and an RBI while scoring twice in the Yankees’ 10-9 win over the Minnesota Twins on Sept. 16 at Target Field.
Volpe started for the first time in a week after receiving a second cortisone shot in his left shoulder last week, a procedure the team hoped would replicate the short-term improvement the first injection produced at the All-Star break. He also made a notable defensive play on a ground ball up the middle in the first inning.
Manager Aaron Boone said the club wanted to get Volpe back into the mix while being mindful that José Caballero had started six straight games at shortstop in Volpe’s absence. For four of those games, Volpe was unavailable or limited as he recovered from treatment; Caballero started over him in the other two as the team navigated a day-to-day decision at the position.
"Good to see him get some immediate results with a double the other way, a walk, base hit," Boone said. "Really good play up the middle right at the start of the game. Good to see him jump right back in and contribute." Boone has described the shortstop situation as "day to day."
Volpe said his shoulder "felt a lot better" after the second shot. He acknowledged that in-season timing made it difficult to select an ideal moment for treatment and that he had played through discomfort before aggravating the shoulder on Sept. 7. The injury traces to a partially torn labrum discovered in May.
"It felt great," Volpe said after the game. "It was tough watching, but it was a big win. All these games are big. It felt good to get out there." He added that after hours of treatment and rehab earlier in the season, the recent injections and follow-up care left him in a place where he can "build day to day and get better." Volpe said it will be "nice to feel good for the rest of the year."
New York enters the final two weeks of the regular season seeking roster clarity at shortstop. The Yankees have said they believe their best configuration features Volpe starting and Caballero serving as a bench weapon, but sustaining on-field performance and managing Volpe’s shoulder will factor into how often the manager turns to each player.
Caballero had not previously started on six straight days since May 2024 before his recent stretch in the lineup, underscoring how the club has rotated the position while monitoring Volpe’s availability. Boone said his decision Tuesday was aimed at reintroducing Volpe without overlooking the utility of having a rested, versatile option on hand.
How the Yankees handle the rotation at shortstop in the coming days could affect the team’s late-season momentum. Volpe’s short-term bounce offered a promising sign for New York as it pursues consistency heading into the postseason window and evaluates whether the player can remain in the lineup on an everyday basis.
The club will monitor day-to-day how Volpe responds to playing and treatment. For now, the immediate return provided a tangible lift in a one-game sample; maintaining that level of performance and managing the shoulder injury will determine whether he keeps the starting role as the regular season closes.