Yankees option Anthony Volpe to Triple-A instead of recalling him

While the New York Yankees continued to start the season with the best record in the American League after an 11-3 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, they had a big decision to make at the end of the day.

What should be done about defender Anthony Volpe, a polarizing figure among the fan base and whose rehab stint has ended?

While Volpe is rehabbing from left shoulder surgery, Jose Caballero, who was acquired by the Yankees last season, is doing more than just playing serviceable shortstop. In addition to being a smooth glove at one of the most important positions on the diamond, it also excels in clutch positions.

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As a result, the Yankees decided not to have Volpe rejoin the team, instead optioning the 25-year-old to the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.

“Caballero plays out of position and plays really well,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said before the Yankees’ win on Sunday. per ESPN. “This complicates the situation.”

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Caballero has been the Yankees’ primary shortstop in 34 games this season and has done well in regular at-bats, often coming to the bottom of the lineup. So far he is slashing .259/.306/.405 with a .711 OPS, four homers and 12 RBIs.

Volpe, meanwhile, went 11-for-44 (.250) in 13 rehab games in the minor leagues, which came mostly with the Double-A Somerset Patriots.

Volpe underwent shoulder surgery on October 14, which occurred after the Yankees were eliminated in the MLB postseason by the Toronto Blue Jays team that won the American League pennant.

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe throws the ball to first base and strikes out during the eighth inning against the New York Mets at Citi Field. (Vincent Carchietta/Imagn Images)

However, the injury was one that plagued Volpe throughout the season. He received a cortisone shot in his shoulder during the All-Star break and received another shot on September 10 after the injury worsened.

Volpe hit .212/.272/.391 with a .663 OPS, struck out 19 times and had a career-high 72 RBIs in 153 games with New York. However, fans took issue with Volpe’s instability at shortstop, tallying 19 errors, ranking third among major leaguers at that position.

Volpe was the Yankees’ first-round pick in the 2019 MLB Amateur Draft and, after finding rapid success in the minor leagues, debuted as a shortstop in 2023 after the team’s spring training.

Although they hit just .209 with a .283 on-base percentage after hitting 21 home runs, the Yankees liked what they saw from their 22-year-old shortstop, also dubbed the Golden Glover, that season.

Somerset Patriots’ Anthony Volpe walks onto the field during a Minor League Baseball game at TD Bank Ballpark on May 1, 2026 in Bridgewater, NJ. (Dan Squicciarini/NurPhoto)

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That doesn’t mean Volpe will spend the 2026 season straight in the minors, but the Yankees won’t change things because they’re staying hot.

Volpe, meanwhile, will use his Triple-A innings and reps at shortstop to work his way toward when the Yankees eventually bring him back to the majors.

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