Yankees bench Anthony Volpe again after cortisone shot for left shoulder
Shortstop removed from lineup for second straight game amid prolonged slump; Jose Caballero gets start at short
Anthony Volpe was left out of the New York Yankees' lineup for a second consecutive game Thursday after receiving a cortisone shot in his left shoulder, the New York Post reported.
The move came one day after Volpe underwent the injection, a decision disclosed by the Post's Joel Sherman. Volpe, who has struggled at the plate in recent weeks, is batting .125 with 29 strikeouts over his past 21 games.
Volpe first felt what he described as “a pop” in the shoulder on May 3 in a game against the Tampa Bay Rays but remained in the lineup through the summer. The cortisone shot was administered Wednesday, and the club opted to give him an extra day before returning him to action.
In Volpe's place, trade-deadline acquisition José Caballero started at shortstop for a second straight game Thursday night against the Detroit Tigers. Caballero, acquired by the Yankees at the deadline, has provided depth up the middle as the team has managed Volpe’s playing time amid the slump and the recent shoulder issue.
The Yankees have not announced a timetable for Volpe’s return to the lineup or whether the club will pursue additional medical treatment or imaging. The team’s decision to remove Volpe from the lineup on consecutive days follows his recent offensive struggles and the shoulder injection.
Volpe, a native of New Jersey, was a regular fixture in New York’s infield during the season before the recent decline in production. The benching underscores the Yankees' effort to balance player health and on-field performance as they navigate the stretch run.
Manager and team officials did not provide immediate comment on Volpe’s status beyond the lineup moves. The Yankees’ short-term plan appears to include continued use of Caballero at shortstop while monitoring Volpe’s recovery and response to the cortisone treatment.
The club will reassess Volpe’s availability ahead of upcoming games, with further lineup decisions expected to reflect both medical evaluation and attempts to halt the hitter’s prolonged slump.