Yankees notebook: Aaron Boone sees Anthony Volpe hitting high in the order…in the future

DUNEDIN, Fla. — Anthony Volpe has been a consistent presence atop the Yankees’ lineup this spring, but don’t expect the franchise’s No. 1 prospect to regularly hit the leadoff spot every time he makes the roster. Major League Baseball.

With Volpe once again in first place for the Yanks’ spring game against the Blue Jays on Saturday, Aaron Boone discussed the 21-year-old’s future presence in the order. But the manager also said that he plans to fill the gap with a veteran anytime soon.

“His future lies in hitting up or in the middle of the order. He controls the strike zone. Obviously a very good hitter. In his case, a very good base runner, base stealer,” Boone said of Volpe. “So I envision him as a future frontman or midfielder (hitter), but I envision DJ (LeMahieu) in the lead.”

LeMahieu, 34, has been the Bombers’ leadoff hitter when healthy since joining the club in 2019. But the Yankees have a surplus of infielders, and they may be wary of LeMahieu’s workload after that foot and toe problems hampered the flexible infielder last time out. season, so there will be days when someone else bats first.

Still, the current plan is for LeMahieu to be the Yankees’ regular leadoff hitter when he’s in the lineup.

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Speaking of Volpe, Boone said the Yankees’ shortstop battle could go all the way, meaning the end of spring training. Volpe has been competing with top prospect Oswald Peraza and, to a lesser extent, veteran Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

Peraza enjoyed a successful cup of coffee with the Yankees last season, while Kiner-Falefa recently added center field to his resume in an effort to increase his already high level of versatility.

The Yankees also have decisions to make in the outfield and bullpen thanks to a handful of injuries. Boone said a large group of team staff will meet early next week to discuss the roster, and that the club plans to bring “a lot of additional guys” to Washington, D.C. for New York’s final exhibition game against the Nationals. the 28th of March.

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Boone said Harrison Bader is “better than I think we expected” as he recovers from an oblique injury and is rotating well. But the captain added that the center fielder isn’t spinning yet. On Friday, Bader was seen using a red light therapy device to treat the injury.

Carlos Rodón, meanwhile, played catch on Friday. The session went well, and the Yankees’ biggest splash of free agent “felt good this morning,” according to Boone. The lefty is recovering from a forearm strain.

Reliever Tommy Kahnle (biceps tendonitis) didn’t pitch as scheduled Saturday; Boone said that he wasn’t feeling well. Finally, catcher José Treviño (wrist inflammation) is expected to catch on March 21 and 23.

Boone said Matt Krook is among those “in the mix for a bullpen role.” The lefty has had a solid spring, posting a 3.60 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 10 innings in Saturday’s contest.

Krook, 28, has never pitched in the majors after spending time with the Giants and Rays organizations. But he’s on the 40-man roster, which gives him a clearer logistical path than some of the non-roster invitees he’s competing against.

Barring an injury, Wandy Peralta is the only left-hander safe to make the Yankees’ Opening Day roster. Krook could help in that regard, and could also offer multiple inputs at once. Twenty-two of Krook’s 29 appearances at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre were starts in 2022. He posted a 4.09 ERA and struck out 25.7 percent of the hitters he faced.