4 days Ago By Aaron Case, Yardbarker
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe may be just 23, but he’s already in his third MLB season. He showed signs of good things to come in his first two years, but the shine is beginning to wear off of the once highly-touted prospect. If Vople doesn’t start putting everything together in 2025, his job status should be questionable heading into 2026.
As a 21-year-old rookie, Volpe displayed impressive power for a middle infielder, crushing 21 homers to go along with 23 doubles and four triples. However, he hit a tepid .209 and posted a subpar .
283 on-base percentage. In his sophomore campaign, the youngster raised his batting average to a nearly respectable .243 and upped his OBP slightly to .
293. But he had trouble getting the ball out of the park, managing only 12 long balls. Currently, Volpe is showing that he can drive the ball again.
Seven of his 13 hits in 2025 have gone for extra bases (four homers, three doubles). The New York native has trended clutch, too, posting a .947 OPS with runners in scoring position and 13 RBI on the season.
AV Club. @Volpe_Anthony pic.twitter.
com/Gme0tKxoeD He’s even been more disciplined at the plate. His nine free passes have him on pace to best his previous season high walk total by more than 30. However, Volpe still needs to prove he can be a consistent hitter.
A single in his last at-bat on Tuesday night raised his average to a lowly .217. That number must go up.
If it doesn’t, the Yankees have another exciting young shortstop waiting in the wings. At just 19, George Lombard Jr. opened eyes in spring training this year with a couple of long balls — and he also crushed one as an 18-year-old during spring training in 2024.
He already has 10 hits for his first 30 at-bats in Single A, and if he continues raking, there’s a chance he rises through the system and starts really breathing down Volpe’s neck next spring. High-A homer No. 1 for the @Yankees ' No.
1 prospect! 19-year-old George Lombard Jr. has reached base in every game to open the year with the @HVRenegades : pic.twitter.
com/lABwYJKdkd Ideally, Volpe puts together a breakout season and Lombard gets extra time to develop into the Bombers’ second or third baseman of the future. Otherwise, impatient Yankees fans will be happy to see the team switch out one young shortstop for another. Aaron Case is a die hard Yankees fan from upstate New York who fuels his writing with too much coffee.
When he's not riding the emotional roller coaster that is the MLB season, he's probably daydreaming and doodling or making beats. Follow him on X @AarontheCase1.
