Even though there is a lockout between Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association, the Yankees will take a look at Anthony Volpe to see how close he is to getting sent into the Major Leagues.
The 20-year-old, who went to Delbarton school, was picked in the first round of the 2019 Major League Baseball Draft with the 30th overall pick. The New Jersey native who was born in Watchung had a $2.74 million signing bonus from the Yankees also.
The Yankees player development department, Kevin Reese, is so excited to see Volpe crack the big leagues soon which factors into Brian Cashman’s thinking at filling the shortstop position.
The Yankees will most likely acquire a veteran defensive gap shortstop before sending Volpe to the Majors which is a cheaper and more attractive option than spending money on a big free-agent shortstop.
There will be a minor league “mini-camp” that began Monday, February 7th, and runs right up to when the minor leaguers official spring training camp starts next month.
Last Season
Last season, the 20-year-old had a breakout season with a great batting average of .294 with 27 home runs, 86 runs batted in, and an outstanding 1.027 on-base plus slugging in 109 games between Low-A Tampa and High A-Hudson Valley. On-base plus slugging is meant to combine how well a hitter can reach base, with how well he can hit for average and for power. Lastly, he stole 33 bases and drew 78 walks in 412 at-bats.
“He had a great season. He surprised just about everyone with the offense he produced this season. He’s a player everyone loves”, one National League scout said. “But he still needs to play (in the minors) for at least another season. I doubt the Yankees would even consider rushing him this year.”
The Yankees manager Aaron Boone got a one-game glimpse of Volpe and sees why everyone will believe Volpe will be special. “I’m really excited about the player but also the person that I’ve gotten to see so far”, the Yankees manager said last month.
Boone said that if the lockout is delayed in February still, the Yankees staff will get an extended look with the minor league department.
Highly Ranked
Volpe is ranked 10th according to Baseball America’s Top 100 Prospects.
He is not rushing himself, but he does have very high expectations of himself. “I know I probably sound like a broken record, but at the end of the day, whether it happens this year, next year, whatever, I’d really just like to stay in the present and just work every day to try and become that player that one day is that player wins multiple World Series with the Yankees”, Volpe said last month on David Cone’s podcast.
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