In the bottom of the sixth, Volpe crushed a drive to deep outfield that initially looked like a home run as Victor Mesa Jr. tracked it to the wall. Replay review, however, showed fan interference: a spectator reached over the wall to catch the ball directly above Mesa Jr.’s outstretched glove.

Following the review, umpires ruled the play an RBI ground-rule double rather than a home run. The call limited the Yankees to a single run on the play, denying Volpe a trip across home plate and keeping a second run off the board.

The ruling infuriated the home crowd and sparked widespread debate, given its massive implications: a home run would have tied the game late in the sixth and dramatically altered the momentum of the elimination matchup.

Volpe answers the bell despite loss

Given the nod by Boone, Volpe seized the opportunity to prove his regular-season struggles were behind him. His sharp two-way play provided the coaching staff and fanbase a clear reminder that he is built for high-stakes October baseball.

Volpe provided a crucial offensive spark for the Yankees, going 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored while anchoring the bottom of the order from second base. Driving the ball deep into the outfield to bring home a run, he quickly capitalized on the momentum by advancing on the basepaths and scoring himself on Spencer Jones’ subsequent double.

Still, the Yankees ended up losing 4-3, being swept by the Rays in a painful playoff elimination.

Key takeaways

• A fan reached over the outfield wall and caught Anthony Volpe’s sixth-inning drive.
• Umpires reviewed the play and ruled Volpe’s drive an RBI ground-rule double.
• Volpe finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI and scored a run.

For Boone, the move came down to a gut feeling heading into a pivotal ALDS matchup against Tampa Bay. “Just felt like it. I felt like I wanted to go with him today,” Boone told reporters prior to the game.

While Chisholm was let off the hook by Boone despite his Game 2 struggles, the manager opted to shake up the starting nine. The move gives Volpe—who endured his own prolonged slumps earlier this year—a chance to prove his past struggles are behind him on the big stage.

Paired with Boone’s recent injury update on Aaron Judge following Game 1 of the ALDS, the Yankees hope this lineup adjustment provides the spark needed to turn the series around and punch their ticket to the ALCS.

Volpe’s stats compared to Chisholm Jr.

The two infielders entered October under vastly different circumstances: Volpe missed significant time due to performance issues, while Chisholm Jr. missed only a handful of games. Their regular-season numbers reflect that disparity, but a head-to-head comparison provides key context:

In the postseason, Chisholm had been a staple at third base for New York throughout the Division Series, offering solid defense and launching a solo home run. However, his bat has cooled off significantly alongside the rest of a struggling Yankees lineup.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Boone started Anthony Volpe at shortstop over Jazz Chisholm Jr.
• Volpe played 56 games with a .240 batting average during the season.
• Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit 19 home runs and drove in 55 runs.

Chisholm Jr. has been through the ringer all season long in 2026. As the two-time All-Star is a pending unrestricted free agent once the 2026 MLB Postseason comes to an end, Boone knows he must tread carefully with every decision that affects Chisholm Jr.

New York has seen Jazz grow upset before, and it often spells bad news for the Bronx Bombers. Thus, Boone offered a clear explanation of why he ultimately chose to give Volpe the nod over Chisholm Jr. at 2B. Based on Boone’s admission, Chisholm could be a pinch hitter in Game 1 against Boston at Yankee Stadium. Thus, all hope isn’t yet lost for Jazz.

“My expectation is that [Jazz Chisholm Jr.] will be ready to go and could play a crucial role as early as tonight,” Boone said about Chisholm Jr. despite him being benched to face the Red Sox left-handed, starting pitcher Payton Tolle in Game 1, via MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.

Benching Chisholm Jr. makes sense

Obviously, hindsight will always be 20/20. But on paper, sticking with Volpe at second base and having him start the game against Boston’s lefty pitcher appears to be the right decision. Not only does Volpe (right-handed batter) give New York a platoon advantage in the middle of the batting order, but he also enters the MLB Postseason in rhythm.

Chisholm Jr., on the other hand, has been in and out of the lineup ever since he returned from a 10-day IL stint with a sprained right thumb. In fact, Chisholm Jr. caught heat from Boone in his first game back, which raised questions about whether he can be trusted in defense.

Jazz is also a left-handed batter, so he’s at a disadvantage against southpaw pitchers. Not necessarily against Tolle, though. Going into Game 1, the Yankees have a lone homer against the Red Sox’s lefty starter, and guess whose bat was behind that long ball? That’s right, left-handed Chisholm Jr.

One way or the other, Boone has urged the two-time All Star to stay ready because his number might be called up. “Aaron Boone said he texted Jazz Chisholm Jr. last night, ‘Hey, you might be the most important person in the building, and we need you to be ready to go for the biggest spot potentially.‘,” as reported by Gary Phillips.

Déjà vu for Chisholm Jr. in AL Wild Card

Last year, the Yankees benched Chisholm Jr. in Game 1 of the AL Wild Card against the Red Sox, too, though that time it was left-handed ace Garrett Crochet who threw the first pitch for the visiting BoSox squad. A year later, and with free agency knocking on Chisholm’s door, the second baseman will suffer the same fate.

It worked out last year as the Yankees moved on to the ALDS after defeating the Red Sox in three games, but they did fall in Game 1, when Chisholm Jr. was benched for Amed Rosario before being brought in late in the game for only one at-bat.

Will history repeat itself? Only time will tell, and Boone will definitely take the fall if his plan backfires. As for Chisholm Jr., being benched in the postseason once again might be the detonator for his time in The Bronx.

Key takeaways

• Aaron Boone chose Anthony Volpe over Jazz Chisholm Jr. at second base for Game 1.
• Chisholm returned from a sprained right thumb after a 10-day stint on the IL.
• New York defeated Boston in three games during last year’s AL Wild Card series.

Speaking to reporters postgame, Volpe admitted that hearing the Bronx faithful chant his name was an unmatched experience. “That’s why this is a special place, for sure. I wouldn’t trade that for anything in the world, but there’s still a lot to work on,” Volpe said candidly following his activation.

Healthy and locked in, Volpe provides manager Aaron Boone with another key weapon in the lineup, especially as the skipper exercises caution with Aaron Judge’s workload ahead of the upcoming Subway Series against the New York Mets.

Still, Volpe must keep pressing. With Jazz Chisholm Jr. heavily in the fold at second base, the young infielder will need to continuously prove he deserves everyday reps down the stretch as the Yankees gear up for the postseason push.

Volpe’s comeback by the numbers

It was far more than just a single long ball. Volpe put together a stat-sheet-stuffing performance in the series finale against Colorado, driving in five runs on three hits while adding a stolen base to leave no doubt about his impact.

The explosive outing was a welcome sight given his struggles earlier in the year. Before his brief demotion, Volpe had mustered just one home run and 24 RBIs at the big-league level, slumping mechanical issues he seemingly ironed out during his stint in Triple-A.

Will Volpe start against the Mets?

The Subway Series always carries a distinct intensity. Regardless of whether both cross-town rivals are heading to the postseason, the energy in New York ramps up, showcasing one of baseball’s premier rivalries.

Heading into the matchup with the Mets, Volpe stands a strong chance to feature in Boone’s starting lineup. With Chisholm sidelined on the injured list, Volpe’s multi-hit breakout against the Rockies may have given the coaching staff all the convincing they need to pencil him in against their city rivals.

Volpe gets the start at second base on Thursday, while Judge takes a planned day of rest. By sitting the team captain against Colorado, Boone is prioritizing freshness for the high-stakes cross-town matchup ahead, as it was hinted.

The move aligns with Boone’s hints on Wednesday regarding Judge’s availability against the Mets. At full strength, the slugger remains a lethal weapon against a Mets squad that has struggled to stay afloat late in the regular season.

With Volpe back in the fold, top prospect George Lombard Jr. addressed the roster depth following his first career home run in pinstripes on Wednesday, a moment that underscored the growing confidence inside the clubhouse.

Yankees’ predicted lineup against the Mets

As the Yankees look to keep pace with the Tampa Bay Rays in a tight AL East race, having a rested Judge back in the order will be crucial. Barring any late changes, here is how New York could line up against the Mets:

• DH Ben Rice
• LF Cody Bellinger
• RF Aaron Judge
• 1B Luis Garcia Jr.
• CF Spencer Jones / Jasson Dominguez
• 2B Jose Caballero / Amed Rosario
• SS George Lombard Jr. / Anthony Volpe
• 3B Ryan McMahon
• C Austin Wells
• Probable Starter: Max Fried (LHP)

By giving Judge a breather ahead of the weekend, the Yankees enter the Subway Series positioned to maintain momentum, regardless of where their cross-town rivals sit in the standings.

“We’re all in the baseball world. We know what the baseball world is like, anything can happen. Excited to have him, excited to work together,” Lombard Jr. told reporters following his first home run in a Yankees uniform.

Beyond the intrigue surrounding Lombard Jr. and Volpe’s return, fans are keeping a close eye on team captain Aaron Judge. The slugger recently expressed some frustration with Boone over his workload management during the series against the Colorado Rockies.

Boone, well aware of the game-changing impact Judge brings down the stretch, hinted that the MVP candidate was being preserved for the upcoming Subway Series showdown against the New York Mets.

Volpe’s potential fit in the lineup

With MLB active rosters expanding to 28 players for the final stretch of the regular season, Volpe gives Boone a versatile tool to utilize over the remaining series.

Defense was one of the primary areas under intense scrutiny during Volpe’s initial major-league stint. Since his demotion to Triple-A in May, he has made noticeable strides in the field, cutting down significantly on the costly errors that plagued his previous campaign.

However, his offensive production remains a work in progress. Volpe hit just .240 with one home run across 56 MLB games earlier this year. Still, his elite speed on the basepaths gives him immediate value, making him a lethal late-game pinch-running option in tight divisional and wild-card matchups.

Volpe’s stats since August in Triple-A

As the coaching staff looks for ways to integrate him, Volpe’s recent minor-league numbers provide a promising outlook. If Boone writes him into the lineup for Thursday’s series finale against the Rockies, it could mark the beginning of a crucial redemption arc at the major-league level.

Here is a look at his Triple-A production since the start of August:

• Games Played: 27
• Batting Average (AVG): .295
• On-Base Percentage (OBP): .381
• Slugging Percentage (SLG): .642
• OPS: 1.023
• Home Runs (HR): 10
• Runs Batted In (RBI): 21
• Doubles (2B): 7
• Triples (3B): 1

The demotion was designed to give Volpe extended reps to refine his swing and regain his defensive footing. However, with the regular season entering the homestretch, the young infielder suffered a setback on Thursday, exiting his game early with a right forearm contusion.

Though Volpe initially attempted to stay in the game after being evaluated by trainers, the team confirmed he is now day-to-day. The silver lining for New York is that initial X-rays returned negative for a fracture, revealing only a bruise.

The injury comes as the Yankees await the return of several key players from the injured list ahead of October. Among them is captain Aaron Judge, who manager Aaron Boone confirmed is making steady progress and may bypass a formal minor-league rehab assignment altogether.

Could Volpe be considered for the postseason roster?

Despite currently residing in Triple-A, Volpe remains eligible for the postseason roster because he holds a spot on the 40-man roster. The pressing question for manager Boone and the coaching staff is whether he can earn a spot on the active 26-man roster for October.

With Jose Caballero performing well, Volpe’s path back to the major-league lineup remains uphill. Boone has consistently praised Caballero’s steady play, signaling a reluctance to alter the infield dynamic, especially with other key contributors slated to return just in time for the playoffs.

As the front office works to assemble the optimal roster for a championship run, Volpe serves as vital depth should another injury strike before the regular season concludes. General manager Brian Cashman reportedly continues to monitor every option closely, knowing the organization’s postseason results will possibly dictate how this season is evaluated.

This was reported by Bryan Hoch on X, which noted that Volpe will start working out at second base on his non-shortstop days. Aaron Boone confirmed he spoke to both Jose Caballero and Volpe about sharing duties at shortstop, noting, “As I’ve told them each, it’s not going to be the perfect scenario on a given day.”

Boone’s transparent approach with his players suggests that the Yankees are prioritizing matchups and long-term health over static positions. “Caballero will also bounce around,” the report added, indicating that the former Rays infielder will continue his role as a versatile “super-utility” weapon.

Is it the right decision for the Yankees?

Jose Caballero has been a spark plug for New York this MLB season, currently batting .259 with 4 home runs through late May. His ability to maintain a .720 OPS while playing multiple positions has made him indispensable, and this new arrangement allows him to log more innings at his natural shortstop position.

Anthony Volpe, who currently holds a .217 batting average in the 2026 season, has shown flashes of power but is still searching for offensive consistency after a heavy workload. Shifting to second base occasionally could reduce the mental and physical strain of playing the most demanding position on the diamond.

The latest Yankees (30-21) reports suggest this move is less about a lack of faith in Volpe and more about optimizing a roster that is slumping collectively at the plate. By utilizing Caballero’s speed and defensive range across the infield, the Yankees hope to ignite their lineup while easing Gerrit Cole back into the rotation.

According to Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News, Caballero expects to be back on the field for the Yankees by Friday. “That’s my plan. That’s my goal,” Caballero said, via Phillips.

While the team has yet to officially activate him, Caballero appears locked in and ready to return. In his absence, Volpe has held down the position with the Yankees having reason to be optimistic about the young shortstop who has rapidly rediscovered his stride and is beginning to look like his elite self again.

In addition to Caballero’s impending return, the Yankees are reportedly considering accelerating Gerrit Cole’s highly anticipated season debut to help patch a heavily strained starting rotation. Between Cole’s timeline and the infield shuffle, manager Aaron Boone will have some major roster decisions to finalize in the coming days.

Will Caballero reclaim his spot from Volpe?

Since taking over everyday duties, Volpe has proved he belongs in the lineup with a string of stellar performances. However, Boone has already made the internal shortstop hierarchy clear, hinting that Caballero will reclaim his role once fully healthy.

Regardless of how the playing time shakes out, Volpe remains a vital piece of the puzzle. He overcame costly defensive miscues last season, but he currently sports a completely revamped approach and looks primed to make a major impact in the big leagues moving forward.

A potential revenge series against the Rays

After being traded from Tampa Bay to New York, Caballero is now in line to face his former club. During his 86-game regular-season stint with the Rays, he logged 53 hits, 37 runs, and two home runs.

Whether he gets the green light for the upcoming series rests on the medical staff’s final clearance. It’s a high-stakes return, as the Yankees wrap up their set with the Toronto Blue Jays while trying to chase down the first-place Rays in a tight AL East race.

“Incredible: That’s the guy we know,” Aaron Judge said via the New York Post. “That’s why he’s been our shortstop for the last couple seasons, is when we need him in a big spot, he comes up big for us.

“Made some good plays, had some big swings for us, took his walks when he needed to in some tough situations. He keeps getting more at-bats, more at-bats — he’s coming off a big shoulder surgery, so the first couple games are going to be a little tough. But I was definitely encouraged by what I saw today.”

Anthony Volpe rises to the occasion against the Mets

During yesterday’s tough extra-inning loss against the Mets, Anthony Volpe provided a massive silver lining for the Bronx Bombers, going 2-for-3 with a double, 3 RBIs, 2 walks, and a run scored. The 25-year-old shortstop, who recently made his season debut after starting the year in Triple-A, displayed an elite and uncharacteristic level of patience at the plate, heavily working the pitch count and drawing a crucial bases-loaded walk alongside a clutch two-run single.

Moving forward, Aaron Boone and the Yankees can lean on Volpe’s revamped plate discipline as a potential catalyst for the lineup; if he can permanently marry this newfound selectivity, manifested in a staggering seven walks to just two strikeouts over the weekend series.

Volpe has put his injury behind him

Anthony Volpe has officially put behind a significant torn labrum in his left shoulder, an injury originally sustained in mid-2025 while diving for a ball in the field. After playing through the pain and receiving cortisone shots for the remainder of that season, the shortstop underwent arthroscopic surgery last October to repair the damage.

The procedure forced the infielder to miss all of Spring Training and the start of the 2026 season while completing a grueling seven-month rehabilitation process, which finally concluded with a brief minor-league rehab assignment in Triple-A just before his recent return to the Yankees’ roster.

New York Yankees upcoming games

The New York Yankees are kicking off a crucial stretch at Yankee Stadium, starting tonight with a four-game division series against the Toronto Blue Jays that runs through Thursday. Immediately after, the Bronx Bombers will stay at home to host the leading Tampa Bay Rays for a high-stakes, three-game weekend matchup from Friday, May 22nd through Sunday, May 24th.

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.

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.”

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.