Yankees Notebook: Anthony Volpe Builds Case With Home Run-Producing Adjustment

TAMPA — Pablo Lopez had Anthony Volpe swing his sweeper in the first inning Friday. In the third, it was the prospect who made the Twins’ Opening Day starter pay.

Volpe, just 21 and vying to be the Yankees’ starting shortstop, drove a nearly identical pitch to center field on the first offering of his second at-bat in the Yankees’ 6-4 spring training loss. against the Twins. The two-run homer, Volpe’s third of the spring, caught the attention of his manager as the Yankees weighed some big decisions with camp drawing to a close.

“He went to school and made the little adjustments that he needed and really leaned into that,” Aaron Boone said after the game at George M. Steinbrenner Field.

“He is a heady and intelligent player, but he is a good player. So it’s like he has the equipment to do things, but he processes them very well. He learns. He adjusts very well.”

Meanwhile, Volpe praised Lopez’s tackle as “a pretty nasty pitch, but I felt like I got a pretty good look at it.”

Volpe, the Yankees’ No. 1 prospect, is now hitting .277 with a .967 OPS this spring. He also recorded five doubles, five RBIs and five stolen bases while impressing with his defense. His main competition, No. 3 prospect Oswald Peraza, has shown his glove as well, though he was hitting just .171/.293/.314 with two doubles, one home run, one RBI and two stolen bases before. to start short and hit. second in the Yankees’ Friday night “B” game on the road against the Orioles.

Boone said not to read in the games that Volpe and Peraza were assigned on Friday. Volpe started as he played behind Opening Day starter Gerrit Cole.

The captain added that both are “all-around players,” though he acknowledged that Peraza’s “numbers aren’t very good” after the 22-year-old hit well in a handful of major league games last September.

Boone also said he “thinks” the Yankees will know their roster decisions before they leave Florida next week, though he made sure to stress that word. Volpe, meanwhile, said he’s been trying to block the impending pick short and enjoy what’s left of his time in Tampa.

“I’m just happy with all the work I’ve been able to do. I feel like I’ve improved a lot in different parts of my game,” Volpe said, adding that the opportunity to learn from the established Yankees major league team and coaches has been invaluable experience. “We have learned things that will take us years into the future.”

Volpe said those close to him haven’t been bothering him about the Yankees’ decision: “They know the situation and they’re respectful of everything,” but he does pay attention to his family when they go to games, including Friday’s.

“They are not ashamed or feel bad about standing out,” he said with a smile.

Aaron Hicks started in center field Friday, but Boone said that doesn’t necessarily mean he prefers Hicks there while Harrison Bader recovers from an oblique injury. Rather, the manager said he’s “just juggling” his outfielders so they get reps in different places. Aaron Judge, for example, made another start to left against the Twins.

Boone also said he expects Giancarlo Stanton to play the outfield early this season, possibly starting on Opening Day. Non-list guest Willie Calhoun is still in the mix for a job as well.

Boone said Carlos Rodón felt good after the pitcher threw a shot into the bullpen Thursday, his first since slightly spraining his left forearm. Rodón, inactive since March 9, will probably have his next work session on Monday. He said he’ll mix up breaking balls after throwing just 15 fastballs Thursday.

“He’s had a good week,” Boone said.

The Rangers have informed the Yankees that they have ruled out Clint Frazier from their Opening Day roster, according to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News. Frazier, who played for the Yankees from 2017 to 2021 before a brief stint with the Cubs last year, has had a decent but not great spring.

The Yankees visit Texas from April 27-30.