Anthony Volpe’s undeniable spring training performance has earned him a spot on the New York Yankees’ Opening Day roster as their starting shortstop. The 21-year-old top prospect batted .314/.417/.647 with three home runs and 10 extra-base hits in 17 games, impressing his teammates and the Yankees organization.
Volpe was drafted by the Yankees out of the Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey, as the 30th pick of the 2019 draft. He established himself as one of the best prospects in baseball during his first full season in 2021, and followed it with a standout 2022 that ended at Triple-A. In 275 minor league games, Volpe hit .263/.376/.505 with 50 home runs and 89 stolen bases.
He will be the youngest Yankees shortstop since Derek Jeter debuted at age 20 in 1995 and only the second homegrown shortstop since Jeter’s retirement in 2014, along with Gleyber Torres. Some are even speculating that Volpe could be the next Derek Jeter.
However, it’s important to temper expectations and remember that Jeter is a future Hall of Famer and one of the greatest shortstops in MLB history. While Volpe has shown promise in the minors and in spring training, he still has a lot to prove at the major league level. It’s unfair to compare him to Jeter before he’s even played a regular season game.
That being said, Volpe has the potential to be a special player for the Yankees. He’s talented, mature, and has the support of his teammates and the organization. It will be exciting to see him make his debut on Thursday and see what he can do on the field. Whether or not he becomes the next Derek Jeter remains to be seen, but for now, Yankees fans should enjoy watching Volpe develop and grow as a player.
