Yankees’ Anthony Volpe once again started at the top of the lineup against the Angels on Tuesday. He batted first for the second game in a row, this time in a lineup that also included DJ LeMahieu at fifth. While Giancarlo Stanton is out with a hamstring injury, LeMahieu may continue to see more time in a run-producing spot.
Anthony Volpe has not been immensely successful at the plate so far. But he had exactly one hit in each of his last five games, including his first home run. He has also walked three times during that period. If he’s going to be hitting first for a while after being stuck in the ninth spot, it would be great for him as a rookie.
Anthony Volpe’s promotion
Giancarlo Stanton has been out for six weeks with a Grade 2 hamstring strain, which is a big blow to the Yankees. He was one of their best big hitters so far in the 2023 season. The first game against the Angels was the Yankees’ second night without Stanton. The Yankees lost 5-2 to the Angels
Also, Anthony Volpe batted first and DJ LeMahieu hit fifth for the second game in a row. While Stanton is out, that order could become more common. The Yankees need LeMahieu’s bat more in the middle of the lineup than at the top, where he usually bats.
“That’s certainly possible,” Boone told. “It’s that way again today and we’ll see moving forward. I potentially like that.”
Even though Anthony Volpe had only hit .191 and had an OPS of .628 in his first 16 big league games as of Tuesday, his advanced approach at the plate and his ability to steal bases make him an interesting leadoff option. Against the Angels, he went 0-for-3 and walked twice. One of the walks drove in a run.
“His DNA is: Control the strike zone,” Boone told. “I think when he really gets rolling, you’re going to see that at a really high level. I think even these first couple weeks when he hasn’t been on fire yet, you still see that in there, his ability to lay off pitches. So I think he’s cut out for that. Obviously, you add the speed mix to it, but yeah, I think he has it all in there. Whether he’s hitting ninth or hitting first, I think the heartbeat, between the ears, he’s equipped to handle it all.”
Volpe, Peraza team up against Angels
On Tuesday, Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe played for the Yankees for the first time together. Peraza was called up after Stanton was hurt, and the Yankees didn’t waste any time putting him at second base against the Angels. This could be the first of many times that he and Anthony Volpe play together, and it could be a sign of a possible future partnership up the middle.
Oswald Peraza was doing pretty well at AAA, but he didn’t have much power. He’s hitting .289 and walking 7% of the time with 19% strikeout rate. He will start hitting the ball higher and with more power, but he has been a little slow to start. If Donaldson’s return is delayed, Peraza might be able to stay in The Bronx a little bit longer.
He played second base in his first game of the season at Yankee Stadium on Tuesday. He went 1-for-3 with a walk and an infield single. In the spring, Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe fought over who would be the starting shortstop. In the end, Anthony Volpe won. Now we got to see them play together in the middle infield, with Gleyber taking over as the designated hitter. The future infield is a treat to watch for Yankees fans.
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