Sophomore Anthony Volpe is determined to make a MLB mark his second year in pinstripes and his rise until now undoubtedly a compelling book in writing. On a sun-drenched Sunday afternoon at Petco Park, the Yankees’ shortstop extended his hitting streak to 19 with another single in the sixth.
Notwithstanding the Yankees’ 5-2 loss to the Padres, this 19-game hitting streak now places Anthony Volpe alongside one of the most revered Yankees of all time and his baseball inspiration, Derek Jeter.
Anthony Volpe ties Jeter’s Yankees record
Anthony Volpe’s journey to matching Jeter’s 19-game hitting streak from 2012 is nothing short of remarkable. Over the weekend, the young shortstop faced down some of the league’s toughest pitchers—Yu Darvish, Dylan Cease, and Joe Musgrove—and emerged unscathed, keeping his streak alive. His leadoff hit in each of the first two games of the series set the tone for the record.
Anthony Volpe’s streak, which matches Jeter’s feat from September 4-25, 2012, is the longest by a Yankee in recent memory. The last Yankee to surpass a 20-game hitting streak was Robinson Cano with a 23-game run in 2012.
If Anthony Volpe is emulating Jeter, his company with Joe DiMaggio further cements his burgeoning legacy. At 23, the sophomore joins DiMaggio as the only Yankees hitter to achieve a 19-game hitting streak at such a young age. DiMaggio’s feats included a 22-game and a 20-game streak at age 22 in 1937.
Throughout his streak, Anthony Volpe has batted a robust .333, scoring 13 runs and driving the Yankees’ offense from the leadoff spot. His manager, Aaron Boone, effusively praised the player’s maturity and adaptability, saying, “A continuing, evolving, outstanding player. Hungry, having the ability to make adjustments. He’s on a lot in front of some great, great hitters. That’s crucial, and it’s been a driving force for our offense.”
Boone elaborated on Anthony Volpe’s potential: “The aptitude that he has to take what you learn, good and bad, struggles, successes and be able to continue to make those adjustments, those are separators—average to good, good to great players. He has all those intangible qualities.”
Anthony Volpe’s performance in the series against the Padres exemplified his ability to rise to the occasion. His hard-hit grounder past second baseman Jake Cronenworth on Sunday not only extended his streak but also set up the Yankees’ first run when Juan Soto rip an RBI double, underlining his importance as a catalyst in the lineup.
Aaron Judge, the Yankees’ captain, lauded Anthony Volpe’s growth: “As he gets more at-bats under his belt, he’s going to continue to improve. He’s using the whole field. When he uses the whole field and he uses his feet, he’s one of the best shortstops in the game. We’re lucky we have him.”
Anthony Volpe’s earlier accomplishments, including becoming the youngest Yankee to record a 16-game hitting streak since Melky Cabrera in 2007 and Derek Jeter in 1996, highlight his rapid ascent. To join the ranks of hitters like Jeter and Cabrera is no small feat, and his name is now being spoken with reverence among Yankee faithful.
Anthony Volpe to stay in leadoff role, Yankees reject any change
The shortstop’s promotion to the leadoff spot in the Yankees’ 13th game of the season came amid a shake-up aimed at rejuvenating the lineup. Initially, Anthony Volpe thrived, batting .382 with a 1.041 OPS through his first 15 games. However, a subsequent slump saw him hit just .165 over his next 21 games as pitchers adjusted to his approach.
Yet, true to form, Anthony Volpe adapted. Entering Sunday, he was batting .343 with a .914 OPS over his last 17 games, coinciding perfectly with his hitting streak. In Sunday’s loss to the Padres, his 1-for-3 performance, including a walk, showcased his resilience and ability to find ways to contribute.
Before the game, Boone confirmed that Anthony Volpe would continue as the leadoff hitter even after DJ LeMahieu returns from the injured list. LeMahieu, the Yankees’ most-used leadoff hitter in 2023 with 58 starts, is set to make his 2024 debut on Tuesday night against the Angels after recovering from a fractured right foot suffered in spring training.
“What Volpe’s been doing in the leadoff spot has been incredible. It’s fun to watch,’’ Judge remarked over the weekend. “And he’s still improving, he’s still getting better.”
The Yankees captain added, “Just getting one hit in a baseball game is hard with the type of guys we’re facing. But he’s the type of kid that he keeps his head down, he shows up, works. I don’t think he really cares about a hitting streak or not, he’s more focused on trying to touch first base so he can see Juan do his thing behind him. We’re lucky to have him and I’m happy he’s hitting in front of Juan.”
Anthony Volpe batted just .209 as a rookie in 2023 but has significantly improved this year, hitting .282 while playing in 53 of the Yankees’ first 54 games. Judge’s spring training prediction that the youngster would become a more consistent hitter has come true, with his contributions helping the Yankees lead the American League in runs and homers.
As Soto and Judge vie for early MVP consideration, Anthony Volpe’s marked improvement has made him one of the league’s most improved hitters. His growth and consistency have been pivotal in the Yankees’ early success this season.
Anthony Volpe’s performance this season has provided additional boost to an already firing offense. The legacy of Jeter’s greatness is a an extremely high bar, but his promising start suggests that he may well carve out his own legendary status in Yankees lore.
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