New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe underwent one of the more trying seasons of his young career, but luckily for him, the team still believes in him.
What a whirlwind season it’s been for the New York Yankees.
After getting trounced in the NLDS by the Toronto Blue Jays, speculation on what the Bronx Bombers’ next move will be to improve the squad.
And it’s also to speculate what’s next for some underperforming players.
Shortstop Anthony Volpe just wrapped up his third season wearing a jersey he grew up wearing – the legendary pinstripes.
But that third season was far from optimal. It went so poorly that Pinstripe Alley named him the Yankees' Least Valuable Player for the 2025 season.
From winning the Gold Glove and finishing in the top 10 in Rookie of the Year voting, many believed that the hometown kid was going to be a Yankee lifer.
Currently, after the season he had, many Yankees fans want him gone, but Yankees brass still sees him as an integral part of this roster.
Just last week, the shortstop had undergone surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder – an injury that he has apparently been dealing with since May.
Players can certainly play through it, but it was clear that the injury was hampering Volpe’s overall production.
Statistically, he had the worst season of his career, and the underlying numbers suggested that it wasn’t just bad luck, it was just exceptionally poor play.
His regular stats throughout his career weren't exactly the best, but his saving grace was always his performance on the field. Yet, this season, he had a historic dropoff on the field. In 2024, he was listed in the 87th percentile in Fielding Run Value, and in 2025, he was in the 17th.
Overall, it’s a major concern for the 24-year-old, but Yankees General Manager Brian Cashman sent out a ringing endorsement for the New York native.
"I believe in the player still. I think we believe in the player," Cashman said. "It doesn't mean we don't play with, on any level, all aspects of roster assessments. He's 24 years old. I don't think the New York stage is too big for him. It's just still finding his way."
Volpe is only 24 years old, turning 25 in April so there’s plenty of time for a revival to his play. It may not have been the wisest of decisions to play through the torn labrum, because it’s very possible that the recovery seeps into the beginning of the regular season, but you live and you learn.
The Yankees’ belief in Volpe is still strong, but he may be running out of chances. He’s going to need to make this upcoming season count if he wants to continue being an integral part of the franchise he grew up rooting for.