TAMPA — Anthony Volpe is not sure when he will debut this season and not sure when his swing progression will graduate to live at-bats, but he is checking off boxes and progressing well.
The tallest hurdle for the recovering shortstop had entailed diving, which he began doing last week.
Thus far, his left shoulder, which underwent surgery in October to repair a torn labrum, has held up well through the dives.
“I feel like I’ve been able to handle everything thrown at me so far,” Volpe said Saturday from Steinbrenner Field.
Volpe is swinging and “in the middle of the hitting progression” he said, and has experienced no setbacks following a procedure that will keep him out of games until April or — more likely — May.
The shoulder issue began in early May of last year, when Volpe heard a “pop” diving for a ball.
What followed were two midseason cortisone shots and perhaps Volpe’s worst stretch of play in his three major league seasons, when his usually reliable defense faltered and he hit poorly enough to lose some September time to José Caballero.
Exactly how much Volpe’s hurting shoulder contributed to his downturn is a matter of debate.
Does his shoulder feel significantly different now?
“I definitely feel like it’s healthy,” Volpe said. “I think I’m just progressing. The way I can tell [it’s improving] is it’s responding to the treatments. Every day is better, even if it’s a very small amount. I feel better every day.
“Whereas [last year], you do a bunch of treatment and you just don’t respond or you feel worse.”
The second cortisone shot, given in September, appeared to work and preceded an upturn in Volpe’s production defensively and offensively.
Still, the season ended with Volpe’s bat struggling in the ALDS after a campaign in which he was again a below-average hitter.
In 472 major league games, the New York native has posted just a .662 OPS.
For the first time since Volpe won the job from Oswald Peraza in spring training of 2023, there is some shortstop competition.
Caballero, who was excellent in 40 games with the Yankees (.828 OPS and 15 steals) after coming over from the Rays, is expected to be the Opening Day shortstop.
There is reason for Volpe to try to get back on the field as soon as he can.
So far, so good.
“I’m in a good spot,” Volpe said, “and I feel like I could do more, which I think is what [the trainers] want.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
