New York Yankees captain Aaron Judge offered public support to Anthony Volpe after the young shortstop struggled in his first MLB appearance of the 2026 season during Wednesday’s 7-0 loss against the Baltimore Orioles, in which Max Fried couldn’t start.
Following the game, Judge encouraged Volpe to stay focused despite growing outside criticism surrounding his role and future with the organization. “Just take care of business,” Judge said about Volpe, according to Randy Miller of NJ Advance Media.
He also added, “There’s been a lot of questions, a lot of stuff going on with that, circling with the media, but the biggest thing is block out the noise. There’s going to be a lot of noise with it.”
Volpe finished the game 0-for-3 with a strikeout and also committed a late defensive error on a routine ground ball, a performance that only reinforced the idea that Anthony Volpe’s performance solidifies Jose Caballero’s role. The appearance marked his first MLB game since undergoing shoulder surgery last fall to repair a torn labrum.
Anthony Volpe struggled in his Yankees return. hris Graythen/Getty Images
Volpe facing growing pressure with Yankees
Volpe’s return comes during an uncertain period in his Yankees career after losing the starting shortstop role to Jose Caballero earlier in the season. The former top prospect was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre only because Caballero landed on the injured list with a fractured right middle finger.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has reportedly indicated Caballero will regain the starting role once healthy, leaving Volpe’s long-term role unclear moving forward. The difficult return only intensified scrutiny surrounding the 25-year-old, who entered the season hoping to reestablish himself as an important piece of the Yankees’ future.
Judge continues backing Volpe publicly
Despite Volpe’s struggles, Judge made it clear that the organization still values the young infielder and believes he can contribute at the major league level. “Just go out there and play your game,” Judge added. “He’s a special part of this organization, a special player…so just block out the noise and just go do your job.”
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The Yankees will now prepare for a three-game Subway Series against the New York Mets, giving Volpe another opportunity to regain confidence and potentially quiet some of the criticism surrounding his recent performances.
