Yankees’ Anthony Volpe, who showed flashes of his top-prospect potential earlier this season, is now struggling at the plate, according to manager Aaron Boone.
Volpe’s performance in the first two months included a career-best 34-game on-base streak, which helped New York achieve the best record in the league.
However, as the season reached the All-Star break, Volpe’s performance declined, causing him to drop from batting leadoff to seventh in the order. Boone, speaking on “Talkin’ Yanks,” acknowledged that Volpe, like the entire Yankees team, needs a reset.
“He’s still working and going through some of those growing pains,” Boone said. “It’s a tough game. Hopefully, in the second half, some of the things he’s working on start clicking more and you see a more complete hitter. But it’s a work in progress.”
Since June 6, Volpe’s batting average has dropped to .171/.203/.230 with a 22 wRC+, and his season OPS has fallen from .803 to .666. He hasn’t hit a home run since May 16, and strikeouts have become a significant issue. During this period, the Yankees have also struggled, posting a 13-21 record and falling to second in the division.
Before his slump, Volpe had a 130 wRC+, the third-best on the team behind Aaron Judge and Juan Soto. This was a significant improvement from his rookie season’s 84 wRC+. Volpe, who was the No. 5 prospect in 2023 according to MLB Pipeline, won a Gold Glove at shortstop in his first year. Fans had high hopes that he would follow in the footsteps of other top shortstop prospects like Bobby Witt Jr. and Gunnar Henderson, who both finished their second seasons in the top-10 MVP voting.
Boone remains optimistic about Volpe’s potential.
“I think he will develop into being an above-average offensive player,” Boone said.
“He’s a 22-year-old young player who has shown flashes of offensive talent. He’s had some real good moments and some real struggles. He has the aptitude to make adjustments, and hopefully, the second half of the season will show more of what he’s capable of.”
