As the Yankees get set to resume play on Friday following the All-Star break, one of the team’s top objectives will be to get the bat of Anthony Volpe going again.
The sophomore shortstop looked liked a blossoming star early in the season, but since the end of April, he has fallen back down to earth. That dropoff has coincided with his move into the leadoff spot, where he is batting just .242 on the season (compared to .308 in the seventh spot, where he’s had the second-most plate appearances in 2024). Volpe has since been moved out of the leadoff role, and Keith says he should have never been there in the first place.
“I just had an issue with a 22-year-old kid, them forcing him to be such an important part of the offense and the defense,” Keith said. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to be Anthony Volpe, who grew up in this area and wanted to be Derek Jeter…he actually did it, and he has the weight of the world on his shoulders at 23 years old, to be the shortstop of the New York Yankees and the leadoff hitter of the New York Yankees.
“Yeah, I’m disappointed in him because I think he’s pressing and he’s better than that and it’s in there…but I’m also looking at the Yankees like ‘come on now, you know you gotta bring somebody along…especially someone you know that the minor league development was a little skewed because of the pandemic.’”
Listen to Keith’s full thoughts on Volpe and the Yankees via the clip above.