New York — Anthony Volpe committed two costly errors but provided offensive fireworks as the New York Yankees defeated the Tampa Bay Rays 7-5 on Tuesday night, highlighting the Yankees shortstop’s Jekyll-and-Hyde 2025 season.
Anthony Volpe delivered a stellar offensive performance—going 2-for-4 with a 452-foot home run, two RBIs, and a stolen base—yet his defensive lapses nearly cost the Yankees a crucial victory in their pursuit of the AL East-leading Toronto Blue Jays. The 24-year-old’s two throwing errors brought his season total to 15, leading all of Major League Baseball and representing a dramatic fall from his 2023 Gold Glove campaign.
The Yankees (58-49) trail Toronto by four games in the division race, making every victory critical as the July 31 trade deadline approaches.
First-inning miscue sets problematic tone
Volpe’s defensive struggles surfaced early when he committed a throwing error on a forceout attempt at second base in the first inning. The miscue helped set up Jonathan DeLuca’s two-run triple, contributing to Tampa Bay’s early 3-0 lead and charging Yankees starter Max Fried with unearned runs.
“I rushed the throw and pulled it,” Volpe said after a previous error against Toronto, describing the type of mechanical breakdown that has plagued his 2025 season.
Despite the early defensive lapse, Volpe responded offensively. His fourth-inning RBI single to center field gave the Yankees a 4-3 lead, capping a four-run rally that included Cody Bellinger’s three-run homer. Volpe then stole third base and scored on a throwing error by Rays catcher Nick Fortes.
Career-long homer highlights Volpe’s offensive surge
The defensive struggles became an afterthought in the eighth inning when Volpe launched a 452-foot solo home run to right-center field—the longest of his career. The blast marked his fifth home run in 11 games and brought his season totals to 15 homers and 57 RBIs, representing a significant offensive improvement from his early-season struggles.
“We’re talking about a few extra errors. That’s the separator when he wins a Gold Glove and when he’s not,” manager Aaron Boone told The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty last week. “He hasn’t made a few plays that have generated a lot of noise.”
Ninth-inning error nearly costs victory
Volpe’s second defensive miscue proved more costly than the first. With the Yankees holding a 7-5 lead in the ninth inning, his throwing error on what should have been the game-ending play allowed Tampa Bay runners to reach second and third base with the tying runs in scoring position.
Closer Devin Williams ultimately struck out All-Star Jonathan Aranda to preserve the victory, but the sequence underscored how Volpe’s defensive lapses continue to create unnecessary drama for a Yankees team with championship aspirations.
Dramatic decline from Gold Glove season
The defensive struggles represent a stunning reversal for Volpe, who won the AL Gold Glove award in 2023 as a rookie. That season, he committed 17 errors in 1,346⅔ innings while leading AL shortstops with 2.4 defensive WAR and 15 Defensive Runs Saved.
This season, Volpe has committed 15 errors in just 846⅔ innings—a significantly worse rate than his Gold Glove campaign. His fielding percentage ranks worst among AL shortstops, and he’s posted only 2 Defensive Runs Saved compared to his stellar rookie numbers.
“He’s still making a lot of rangy plays, he’s still making a lot of plays,” Boone said. “He just hasn’t been as consistent as he has in his first two years. That’s three or four plays we’re talking about.”
Boone maintains stern but supportive tone
The Yankees manager has grown increasingly defensive about Volpe’s struggles while maintaining public support. Boone’s comments have taken on a more stern edge as the errors have mounted, particularly after the team committed seven errors in a recent three-game series against Toronto.
“He’s still a top shortstop,” Boone insisted, though his patience appears tested by the defensive lapses that have directly cost the team runs in crucial games.
General Manager Brian Cashman emphatically dismissed trade speculation surrounding Volpe as the deadline approaches.
“He’s our shortstop,” Cashman said. “I don’t forget where [Volpe] was and what he was doing on the biggest stage of the game last October. Despite the twists and turns of how his season is currently playing out, there’s a lot of season left to be played.”
Cashman has already confirmed the Yankees are “definitely” looking to acquire starting pitching and infield help before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. deadline, but not at shortstop. The GM’s backing of Volpe comes despite growing fan frustration with the defensive miscues.
Playoff implications mount pressure
The Yankees entered play as defending AL champions and 2024 World Series runners-up, creating enormous expectations for another deep postseason run. Their 11-17 record against AL East opponents has hampered division title hopes, placing additional importance on victories like Tuesday’s comeback win.
Volpe’s offensive resurgence—batting .214/.286/.394 this season—has provided hope that his complete game can round into form. His recent power surge, including five home runs in 11 games entering Tuesday, suggests the offensive component is trending upward.
Tuesday’s 7-5 victory encapsulated Volpe’s maddening 2025 season: spectacular offensive moments shadowed by defensive lapses that create unnecessary drama. With the trade deadline hours away and the division race intensifying, the Yankees need their Gold Glove shortstop to rediscover the defensive consistency that made him a rising star.
The offensive surge provides reason for optimism, but until Volpe resolves his throwing accuracy issues, he’ll remain a lightning rod for criticism despite his undeniable talent and clutch hitting ability.
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