Tampa, Florida –
Anthony Volpe grew up watching Derek Jeter star at shortstop for the New York Yankees.
The 21-year-old now has a chance to be the opening day shortstop for the Yankees against the San Francisco Giants on Thursday.
The team announced that Volpe earned a spot after spring training in Sunday’s 6-2 win over Toronto.
New York manager Aaron Boone called the kid into his office to break the news.
“My heart was beating pretty hard,” said Volpe, who rated one of baseball’s best prospects.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, hitting coach Dillon Lawson, and bench coach Carlos Mendoza were also in attendance.
Volpe said he was able to share this news with his parents and other family members near the Yankees dugout and he will never forget it.
“It was very emotional,” Volpe said. “It was an incredible moment to share with them.”
Volpe, who grew up a Yankees fan, lived in Manhattan as a child before moving to New Jersey. Jeter was his favorite player.
“It’s very surreal,” Volpe said. “I’ve only been to games at Yankee Stadium, and I’ve only seen him play there most of the time.”
Volpe has a .314 batting average, 3 home runs, 5 RBIs and a .417 on-base percentage in 17 Grapefruit League games. He has played only 22 games in Triple-A.
Spring training began with Volpe, Oswaldo Peraza and the holding out Isaiah Kiner-Falefa competing for the daily short stop job. Kiner-Falefa transitioned to a utility role halfway through camp.
“The performance was definitely there, but he killed it during the dialogue,” Boone said of Volpe. The energy to play the game is there and the instincts he has are obvious.He really ticked all the boxes we could have had for him.Do the door and take his opportunity I got it.”
Volpe arrived in Florida in December and trained at the Yankees’ minor league complex.
“He’s earned the right to take the spot, and we’re thrilled with him and us,” Cashman said. He just dominated, which obviously bodes well for him as we move forward.
Volpe was selected 30th overall in the 2019 draft from New Jersey’s Delverton School after graduating from high school. He abandoned a college promise to Vanderbilt to sign with the Yankees.
“It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the organization,” said Volpe. “This day, this feeling, this moment is like what I’ve been working on all my life when I made that big decision.”
“It’s crazy now,” he added. “I don’t even know what’s ahead, but I want to go out and play on Thursday and have fun.”
