The Yankees’ series finale against the Rockies offered plenty of buzz thanks to the return of Anthony Volpe.
Recalled to take over for the injured Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base, the 25-year-old was in the Yankees’ starting lineup, and he delivered.
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Volpe went 3-for-4 in his first game with the Yankees since Aug. 1, but drove in a career-high five RBI, punctuated by a grand slam that put the game away for good.
“Great results but good at-bats,” manager Aaron Boone said after the 10-3 win. “Excited for him, he hasn’t done anything but continue to work and grind and got his way back here. And obviously had an impact on this game.”
Once the organization’s top prospect and groomed to be the shortstop of the future, inconsistencies on both sides of the ball led to Volpe’s demotion in early August. Volpe used his time in Triple-A to learn some new positions and to tweak his swing.
And while Volpe’s defense at second was competent enough for the Yankees to start him there at the big league level, the offensive improvements shown in Scranton/Wilkes-Barre were eye-opening.
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When Volpe was demoted, he was hitting .240 with one home run and 19 RBI across 56 games with the Yanks. In 28 games with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, his offensive production exploded. He started with a .205 average and by the time his time with Triple-A was up, he was batting .264 with 10 home runs.
Volpe credited the culture the most for his offensive improvements.
“[Coach Shelley Duncan] down there is amazing. He takes in everyone,” Volpe explained after the game. “I wasn’t alone when I was there. It was me, [Jasson Dominguez], and [Max] Schuemann. And the guys there… [Oswaldo] Cabrera, I feel like I got so close to him, but to see his positivity and how he’s enjoying playing and having fun, if you don’t do that down there, you’ll stick out like a sore thumb.”
“You root for games like that, especially with how hard he’s been working and everything he’s been doing in Triple-A,” Max Fried said of Volpe. “Coming up, new position for the first time up here and made an immediate impact…great teammate, works hard and really couldn’t be happier for him.”
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Volpe called the last 24 hours an “unexpected whirlwind” and admitted that he wasn’t sure that he’d even be back with the Yankees after two-plus seasons of sub-par play.
“Felt like I had an opportunity and it’s weird the way it happened. You don’t want someone to get hurt, but nothing’s guaranteed,” Volpe said. “I thought I’d never be back up here, so trying to make the most of it.
“I wanted to be back up here, helping and contributing. When you’re down there, there’s no guarantees. You work really hard for yourself and for the player you feel can help the organization. Can’t control it, so I never thought I was going to be back here in this moment, but I wanted to be ready and prepared in case something happens.”
What Volpe wasn’t prepared for was the reaction from the Yankee Stadium crowd. From the moment he was introduced in the starting lineup, the Yankees fans — who many booed and shunned him — welcomed Volpe back. And when he hit the grand slam, the fans chanted his name and Volpe responded with a curtain call.
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After the game, Volpe couldn’t even describe the moment, saying he “blacked out” but appreciated the fans and said he’ll remember it for a long time. But the young infielder understands that to re-establish himself, there’s more that needs to be done.
“That’s why this is a special place, for sure,” he said. “You wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world, but still a lot of work to do.”
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