Yankees put off calling up Anthony Volpe, suddenly making his future cloudier

AL EastBlue JaysOriolesRaysRed SoxYankeesAL CentralGuardiansRoyalsTigersTwinsWhite SoxAL WestAngelsAstrosAthleticsMarinersRangersNL EastBravesMarlinsMetsNationalsPhilliesNL CentralBrewersCardinalsCubsPiratesRedsNL WestDiamondbacksDodgersGiantsPadresRockiesScores & ScheduleStandingsPodcastsThe Windup NewsletterFantasyMLB ProspectsMLB OddsMLB PicksPower RankingsFans Speak UpMLB Season Anthony Volpe went 6-for-18 with a walk in six games with Double-A Somerset. Alexander Lewis / MyCentralJersey / Imagn Images Share articleNEW YORK — As difficult as it may have been to forecast at the beginning of the season, and after years of defending his middling performance, the New York Yankees are in a strange spot with former top prospect Anthony Volpe. On Friday, manager Aaron Boone said the team would keep Volpe in the minors until Sunday, the end of his 20-day rehabilitation assignment window. At that point, the club must bring him back or demote him, according to league rules. “Then we’ll kind of reevaluate where we are after Sunday,” Boone told reporters before a game against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday at Yankee Stadium. Boone didn’t specifically mention the possibility of demoting Volpe to Triple A, but everything seems to be at least on the table, given the surprise performance of José Caballero and the Yankees’ desire to avoid shaking things up as they lead the American League East at 20-11. Boone said he doesn’t “think it hurts” to give more at-bats in the minors to Volpe, who was slated to hit second for Double-A Somerset on Friday. But he had already been given 33 minor-league at-bats, and according to Boone, Volpe said he was “ready” to return “whenever we grab him.” “I’ve spoken with him,” Boone said. “(General manager Brian Cashman) has spoken with him. We’ve had those conversations. But he absolutely feels like he’s ready to go and contribute here. But we’ll ultimately make that decision when we think it’s best for not only him, but for the club.” Volpe is in “a really good spot and had a good rehab,” Boone said. He’s posted a .717 OPS with one home run and one walk between Double A and Triple A during his rehab assignment. He’s had an up-and-down start to his career, winning a Gold Glove as a rookie but posting just an 83 OPS+ across three big-league seasons — meaning he’s produced 17 percent below league average. “He’s only played, what, two-plus weeks of games,” Boone said. “Spring training is a lot longer than that. And he got a lot of live at-bats and reads in the field even leading up to that. He’s had pretty much close to a full spring training, but I don’t think it hurts to have him continue to play regularly. But overall, he’s been playing really well.” Anthony Volpe bats second in tonight’s #HealthyLineup as Jack Cebert makes his Double-A debut! ⏰ | 6:35 p.m.📺 | @Bally__Sports x @MiLB App x https://t.co/ZpisizK6PE🎧 | https://t.co/kBY8O8tfNJ pic.twitter.com/fWm3ynolg0 — Somerset Patriots (@SOMPatriots) May 1, 2026 Meanwhile, Caballero has been a stud defensively and better than expected at the plate. Caballero said he’s been “feeling really good” and that playing a single position for a long stretch “definitely helps.” He added that he doesn’t care what the Yankees decide, as long as they’re winning. Caballero’s 6 Defensive Runs Saved are the most among shortstops, according to FanGraphs. He’s tied for fourth overall among all defenders. That tracks, considering the Panama native has displayed his characteristically strong — and sometimes erratic — arm and steady glove. Boone said Caballero’s defense has been “arguably as good as anyone in the league.” “That’s what I’m watching,” Boone said. “I think the numbers back that up. But that’s what I’m seeing with my eyes as well. He’s made a lot of really good plays. He’s been really steady. I go back to this road trip and the Boston series … there were probably four plays in that series in tighter, lower-scoring games that didn’t necessarily have that flash to it, but … you take another look at it, and you’re like, man, another really good play. He’s just played really well out there and been an important part of us winning games in the early part of the season. Offensively, Caballero has been solid, although his underlying metrics suggest he could be over-performing. He’s tied for the American League lead in steals (12) and he’s tied for the most times caught stealing (four) in the majors. He overcame a slow start to post a 98 OPS+ going into Friday, hitting .267 with three home runs, 11 RBIs and a .713 OPS. But his expected batting average is just .212, and he’s among MLB’s worst in chasing pitches outside the strike zone, swings-and-misses and taking walks. Caballero said the Yankees haven’t told him about any plans regarding Volpe’s potential return, and that he hasn’t been working out at other positions. He said he would be “more than happy” for Volpe to return as the starting shortstop “if we win games.” The Yankees may also be buying themselves time. They may want to simply experience a few more days of Caballero as their starter to make sure they’re convinced he should take the job over Volpe. Or they may be waiting to see something else from Volpe. There could also be an injury that forces them to make a decision. The Yankees have made some decisive moves this season, cutting veteran outfielder Randal Grichuk and demoting 2024 American League Rookie of the Year winner Luis Gil. Would the Yankees keep Volpe in the minors if they want Caballero to continue as their starter? It may be where he would get more regular playing time. It wouldn’t make a lot of sense for Volpe to be on the major-league roster as a shortstop-only backup. But none of that has to be decided until Sunday, and the Yankees plan on running out the clock. “One of the good things that’s happened for us as a team through spring training and now into early parts of the season is, we have a lot of really good players and a lot of depth,” Boone said. “Good players competing for important roles and spots on the club. José is part of that, and Anthony, we expect to be part of that as well. But, again, just an opportunity to give Anthony more playing time here through the weekend and we’ll see where we are when we look up on Sunday.” Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms