Anthony

Volpe

Caballero had been planning to play in the Dominican Winter League, but instead decided to “feel fresh” going into spring training and work on his swing at Driveline Baseball in Tampa. According to The Athletic’s Chris Kirschner, Caballero’s “goal is to improve his average bat speed to 71 mph this season, which would have been a shade under last year’s MLB average (71.7 mph).” In his first spring training action, the 29-year-old utility player hit a 405-foot home run. Caballero will get a chance to start at shortstop for the Yankees with Anthony Volpe (shoulder) out, so if he’s able to add some power to his elite speed, he could be a major steal where he’s going in fantasy drafts.

It’s the first time that the 24-year-old shortstop has swung a bat since undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder. The Yankees are already expecting to be without Volpe for all of April, so they’re going to let him take his time as he progresses through his recovery. Jose Caballero is expected to see the bulk of the action at shortstop while Volpe is shelved.

Volpe is sitting at exactly three years of service time after debuting at the beginning of the 2023 season. He’s avoided any Triple-A demotions since, though it’s possible that could happen this year if he’s not quickly up to speed once he makes his way back from shoulder surgery. He struggled to a .212/.272/.391 line in 153 games last season.

There is no timeline beyond that, so the shortstop’s return will depend on how his off-season recovery goes. The Yankees went from insisting Volpe wasn’t playing through an injury to likely being without their starting shortstop for at least the first month of the season. Jose Caballero figures to begin the year at short for the Yankees, unless they make a move in the off-season.

Volpe can start hitting in four months, but it’ll be six before he’s allowed to dive on defense, which probably means he’ll spend most of April on the injured list. Boone, who maintained that he didn’t think playing through a labrum tear had much of an effect on Volpe’s performance, also didn’t promise that Volpe would get his starting job back after returning. José Caballero can be penciled in as the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop for now, though the team will add another utility option.

The Yankees have yet to comment, but Volpe apparently had the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder repaired. He was hurt diving for a groundball in May, but he played through it while receiving cortisone shots in June and September. While it’s possible the Yankees will look to move on from Volpe this winter, the fact that he was hurt during his disappointing season should give them pause about selling low.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone will not make any changes with New York facing Blue Jays rookie sensation Trey Yesavage following a lopsided series-opening defeat earlier this weekend. Here’s the full lineup: Trent Grisham (CF), Judge (RF), Cody Bellinger (LF), Ben Rice (1B), Giancarlo Stanton (DH), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (3B), Ryan McMahon (3B), Anthony Volpe (SS) and Austin Wells (C).

Volpe came through with a run-scoring single off of Connelly Early in the fourth inning that extended the Yankees’ lead to 2-0. He would strike out in each of his other three plate appearances on the night. The next battle for the Yankees will be against the Blue Jays in Toronto in the ALDS beginning on Saturday.

Volpe’s opposite-field blast against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet had to feel good for the much-maligned shortstop after a tumultuous regular season where he tied for the American League with 19 errors and was the subject of constant criticism from Yankees fans. He also singled in the eighth inning to snap a streak of 17 consecutive batters retired by Crochet since the round-tripper. The Yankees will have their backs up against the wall in a win-or-go-home Game 2 showdown at Yankee Stadium.

Volpe makes his fourth consecutive start at shortstop with New York aiming to edge the Blue Jays and Red Sox for the AL East division crown. The 24-year-old has been abysmal from a defensive standpoint, but he offers a higher offensive ceiling than speedy utility specialist José Caballero heading into the postseason.