Anthony Volpe’s return to Major League Baseball could mean much more than simply providing infield depth while Jazz Chisholm Jr. recovers from a thumb injury.
With Volpe back in the Bronx and George Lombard Jr. firmly establishing himself at shortstop, the Yankees suddenly have an interesting long-term decision to make at both second and third base.
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Volpe has completely changed his outlook
Volpe’s demotion to Triple-A in August appeared to signal the end of his run as the Yankees’ everyday shortstop, especially with Lombard taking over and immediately making an impact in the majors.
But Volpe has responded exactly how the Yankees needed him to.
After being sent down, he began working at second and third base while also making significant adjustments at the plate. His results have followed. Volpe hit .333 with eight home runs and a 1.218 OPS over a 17-game stretch before his return, while his overall Triple-A production since the demotion has been dramatically better than what he showed in the majors.
That versatility could be extremely valuable.
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There is a path for Volpe to play regularly
The immediate opportunity is obvious. Chisholm is now on the 10-day injured list with a right thumb sprain, and manager Aaron Boone has already said he is comfortable using Volpe at second base.
But the bigger story could come after Chisholm returns.
Lombard has looked like the Yankees’ shortstop of the future, making it difficult to envision Volpe reclaiming that position full-time. However, second and third base remain much more fluid.
Volpe could receive at-bats at second against certain matchups, particularly left-handed pitching, while also seeing time at third base alongside Ryan McMahon. Depending on how the Yankees’ roster develops, there could be a legitimate path to regular playing time for Volpe even with Chisholm healthy.
And that brings up an even bigger question.
Could this be the beginning of the end for Chisholm or McMahon?
Chisholm is approaching free agency, which makes his situation particularly interesting. If Volpe continues to hit and proves capable defensively at second base, the Yankees could eventually view him as an internal solution rather than committing significant money to retain Chisholm.
McMahon’s future could also become more complicated if Volpe establishes himself as a legitimate option at third.
None of that means the Yankees are ready to move on from either player. But Volpe’s return has opened a door that didn’t appear to exist a month ago.
This could be the beginning of a much bigger change to the Yankees’ infield.
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