He is only 21 years old, is so talented that the Yankees were willing to let members of the best free-agent class.
The Yankees had a huge hole at shortstop entering this season. Gleyber Torres was demoted to second base after struggling there. The Yankees were in luck because a heralded free-agent class of shortstops was hitting the market: Carlos Correa, Corey Seager, Trevor Story, and Javier Báez had all been All-Stars, and three of them had won a World Series.
All of them were passed over by the Yankees and traded for Isiah Kiner-Falefa, a sure-handed fielder who isn’t known for his bat.
Why? The team had hoped to improve its defense, but the free agents’ prices were extraordinary. Kiner-Falefa, who is under team control for two seasons, makes $4.7 million this year, while Correa, Seager, Story, and Báez all signed contracts worth $23.3 million or more per year. Correa is the second-highest-paid position player earning $35.1 million for this season.
However, the Yankees’ managing general partner, Hal Steinbrenner, stated in March that there was another reason to avoid top-tier talent.
Anthony Volpe will be the organization’s future shortstop.
Volpe had the opportunity to showcase his skills in Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All-Star Game.
Volpe, 21, meant it sincerely. He was growing up as a Yankees fan in Morristown, New Jersey, and he admired Derek Jeter, the Yankees’ Hall of Fame former shortstop and captain. He and his father attended Jeter’s last All-Star Game and the Futures Game in 2014. Volpe often pictured himself playing shortstop at Yankee Stadium as a child and now as a Yankees prospect.
The Yankees selected Volpe, a right-handed hitter from Delbarton School, with the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft, and intrigued him to Vanderbilt University with a $2.7 million signing bonus.
Volpe’s first season in the minor leagues didn’t begin until 2021 because the previous season was canceled due to the pandemic. He hit .294 with 27 home runs and a 1.027 on-base plus slugging percentage in 109 games. Volpe started slowly this season but has been on a tear since the beginning of June, raising his season totals to .253 with 12 home runs and an .812 O.P.S. through 77 games.
Playing so close to home has its advantages: Volpe lives in his childhood home, but with a few new friends. His Somerset teammates include catcher Austin Wells , outfielder Blake Perkins, and Burt. Volpe stated that his mother cooks for them and the entire team is invited after Sunday home games.
Volpe combines discipline at the plate, power, the ability to hit the ball with the barrel of the bat, strong defense, and speed on the bases, according to Somerset Manager Dan Fiorito. Volpe swiped 33 bases last season and has already surpassed that total (35) in fewer games this season.
However, when talking to Yankees officials and his teammates, Volpe’s most common things is his behavior. Fiorito described Volpe as a “relentless competitor” and said it was difficult to find leaders in such young players. Burt stated that his friend’s attitude is the same whether he is 0 for 4 with four strikeouts or 4 for 4 with four home runs.
The decision on Kiner-Falefa, from Hawaii but followed the Yankees and desiring to be like Jeter, has paid off this season for New York. Along with other improvements, he has contributed to the Yankees becoming the best team in baseball. They had a 63-28 record and a 12½-game lead in the American League East.
A kid from New Jersey loved Jeter and hopes to emulate him one day.
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