HOUSTON — Two weeks ago, Aaron Boone made it simple. When Anthony Volpe returned from his rehab assignment, he would be the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees. That was the plan. No ambiguity.
On Sunday, the conversation sounded very different.
Asked directly what Volpe’s return means for Jose Caballero, Boone did not give a straight answer. He praised Caballero. He acknowledged the situation was evolving. He called playing time questions a matter for another day. And he stopped well short of repeating his earlier declaration that Volpe would simply step back in and take over.
Something has changed inside the Yankees’ thinking. That something is Caballero’s bat.
Caballero’s numbers have made this a real debate
When Boone said Volpe would reclaim the shortstop job, Caballero was hitting below .200. He was struggling to make contact, posting a .398 OPS through his first nine games. Nobody was seriously challenging the notion that the job would go back to Volpe once healthy.
Since April 13, the same day it was announced Volpe would begin his minor-league rehab games, Caballero has gone 18-for-45. That is a .400 average. He has added three doubles, three home runs, five stolen bases and posted a 1.092 OPS over those 12 games.
Over his last 14 games, he is hitting .377 with a 1.023 OPS, four doubles, three homers, 10 RBI and five steals. His season average has climbed to .280. His wRC+ is 108, which is above average.
The walk-off double he hit against the Angels on April 15 came off the bat at 100.7 mph. He had a pair of home runs against the Astros over the weekend. He has been one of the hottest hitters in the Yankees lineup for two straight weeks.
Boone sidesteps the Volpe question
Before the series finale in Houston on Sunday, a reporter asked Boone directly what Volpe’s eventual return means for Caballero’s role. The question was pointed. The timing mattered. The answer was careful.
“Cabbie’s in there today. Cabbie is playing at a really high level. Obviously, we think very highly of Anthony too. But those are answers for another day. Bottom line is, Josie has earned a lot of opportunities and has been right in the middle of us winning a lot of games,” Boone said.
That is a notable shift in tone. Weeks ago, Boone publicly committed to Volpe as the starting shortstop upon his return. The declaration came at a time when Caballero was struggling to make contact.
On Sunday, with the same reporter asking the same kind of question in a very different context, Boone acknowledged Caballero’s performance without offering any guarantee about what happens to Volpe’s role once he is healthy. The phrase “those are answers for another day” left the door open in a way his earlier comments absolutely did not.
Volpe’s rehab timeline extended
Volpe is still working his way back from offseason surgery to repair a torn left shoulder labrum. He began his rehab assignment last week, spending four games at Double-A Somerset and then four at Triple-A Scranton. He was out of action Saturday when a scheduled doubleheader at Scranton was rained out, pushing his workload plan back. Boone said Volpe’s rehab assignment would likely extend into a third week. A return before the Yankees’ next home series, opening Friday against Baltimore, is possible but no longer certain.
Volpe, through his first seven rehab games, is hitting .273 with one home run. He is making hard contact when he does connect. His average exit velocity is 94.1 mph with a 71.4 percent hard-hit rate. His mechanics look different from his 2025 approach. He has adjusted his hand positioning and is keeping both hands on the bat longer through his swing. Whether those changes hold up under big-league pitching is still unknown.
Boone acknowledged Volpe is still finding his timing but said the shortstop feels ready to contribute.
“He’s still working on that,” Boone said. “It’s only been two weeks of games. He’s still getting there, but I know he feels really good and feels ready to contribute, too.”
Caballero’s versatility gives Yankees options
Even if Volpe reclaims the starting shortstop job, Caballero does not need to disappear from the Yankees lineup. His versatility makes him useful across multiple spots. He has a 111 wRC+ and a .771 OPS against left-handed pitchers this season. That gives the Yankees a reliable option in platoon situations across the infield and outfield.
Caballero led all of MLB with 49 stolen bases in 2025. His speed, contact ability from the left side and defensive range make him a legitimate option at second base, third base or left field. The Yankees value that kind of flexibility, particularly with Stanton now dealing with a calf injury and the roster tight in multiple places.
The Yankees carry several infielders on the active roster. With Volpe, Caballero, Ryan McMahon and Amed Rosario all available once the return happens, someone will lose regular playing time. The question is whether the Yankees now view Caballero as a starter worth protecting rather than a placeholder simply waiting to step aside.
Boone’s careful words on Sunday suggested the Yankees may be actively asking that question themselves. A manager who once gave a firm answer on the shortstop job now sounds like someone who is deliberately keeping his options open.
What do you think? Caballero or Volpe at shortstop?
