Is Anthony Volpe the shortstop of the future for the Yankees?
That remains to be seen, although the future looks like it’s arriving now, as both Volpe and fellow top prospect Oswald Peraza are in camp with the Yankees this spring, and even though this is the first time the Watchung, N.J., native is a full invite after reaching Triple-A last year, he’s not feeling any extra added pressure.
“It’s incredible and pretty surreal, although I feel like I’ve been a part of it for the last couple years, so it’s so far, so good,” Volpe said Monday. ““I think just being my first [big-league] camp, it’s such an amazing and cool opportunity. Last camp, when I was up here for the couple games, I was trying to make a good impression and play well. Any time I get out on the field, I want to try to compete in the game and be the best player I can be. Regardless of what happens out of my control after that, I can’t really concern myself too much with it.”
Volpe was working out in Tampa as early as December and has been at the complex full time for more than a month now, even as position players didn’t have to report until Sunday, as he tries to win what has been said is an open competition for the Yankees’ shortstop job.
“I’m just excited to play and compete and treat this like the beginning of the season instead of camp,” Volpe said. “I kind of treated [the pre-camp time] like my spring training and then this like the regular season.”
And how was Day 1 of the regular season?
“So far, so good; first real day, but cool to be around everyone and be in the same locker room, same hitting group, stuff like that…it’s pretty surreal,” Volpe said. “Willie Randolph’s with us, and just getting to learn from guys like that that I grew up learning [about] — my parents were huge Yankee fans, too. Getting to be in a clubhouse with guys all throughout middle school, high school and everything like that, I grew up watching their games on TV. It’s pretty cool.”
One person that’s not there is Derek Jeter, who was the face of the Yankees at the position Volpe plays for two decades – but as a first-round pick and the eventual believed heir apparent to Jeter’s spot, Volpe isn’t feeling any pressure…or sweating the comparisons.
“I grew up a huge fan of Derek Jeter, and I think there’s never going to be another player or person like him, in New York or anywhere. Personally it’s humbling to hear, but I think it’s a little over-exaggerated,” Volpe said.
“Not necessarily (feeling pressure), if anything it’s a really big vote of confidence from the organization from the beginning. It feels like to me everyone’s invested in me, and it allows me to play my best.”
The question will be where he plays, though, as Aaron Boone has said that all of the players who are competing to be the Yankees’ shortstop will also play other positions this spring. Volpe has played just five games off of shortstop in his career, all in 2021, but he has been practicing at second base during his offseason workouts, and relishes any opportunity he’ll get at the big-league level.
“Wherever it is, I just want to play.”
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