The Yankees’ 2023 MLB season is set to start and Yankees Stadium is ready to host a colorful Opening Day. The baseball world has its focus fixed on Aaron Judge, the biggest star in pinstripes, and Anthony Volpe, the prized rookie who is making his debut in pinstripes.
Aaron Judge, 30, is the reigning American League Most Valuable Player. He bats second and plays center field. His 2022 season was widely celebrated and remains a milestone in both baseball and the Yankees history. However, fans will also remember what could have happened if Aaron Judge hadn’t signed a nine-year, $360 million contract to come back.
Thursday’s opponents are the San Francisco Giants, the team Aaron Judge cheered for as a child and that tried to sign him as a free agent last winter. However, Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner guaranteed Aaron Judge the highest salary ever for a position player and gave him the new title of Yankees captain.
Like Derek Jeter before him, Aaron Judge is not expected to wear a navy “C” on his jersey. Instead, he is expected to live up to the expectations that come with being the team’s most famous and respected player. And in his first game of this new era, Aaron Judge will have at least one extra job: helping Anthony Volpe through what could be a crazy day, from the Bleacher Creature shoutouts to his first nine innings in the big leagues.
Aaron Judge ready to help Anthony Volpe
Anthony Volpe, a 21-year-old Jersey kid, bats ninth and plays shortstop. He impressed the Yankees enough to win the team’s most shortstop job in spring training, and now he gets to show off his well-known cool in front of fans who hope he’s the missing piece to a championship team.
“To have a chance to have his first Opening Day at Yankee Stadium, in front of family and friends, man, what an opportunity,” says Aaron Judge of Volpe. “I’m excited for him. He’s gonna be nervous, there’s gonna be jitters, but what I saw in camp, that stuff doesn’t phase him.
“Just go out and have some fun. And make sure you have a roll call for the Bleacher Creatures. I gotta talk to him about that – but he probably knows.”
Anthony Volpe grew up in Watchung, New Jersey, which is about an hour from Yankee Stadium. There, he was a big Yankee fan, who has heard both the upbeat version of “New York, New York” (when the Yankees win) and the more quiet version by Sinatra (after losses). And he or she knows that the people in the right field yell out the names of each player in the starting lineup as the game starts until each player stands up and thanks the crowd.
But Anthony Volpe really impressed the Yankees all through camp with his “elite” preparation and growing talent. om the major leagues yet. The young shortstop will be surrounded by a lot of family and friends, which is fitting for a kid who grew up seeing Derek Jeter’s big games.
However, Yankee veterans kept a close eye on their shortstop candidate this spring.
“It goes back to the people he surrounds himself with,” says Cole. “Getting a chance to see his mom and dad, his friends’ group, some of the prospects he’s played with – they’ve got nothing but good things to say about him.
“Seeing the support he has around him and that tight-knit group, that’s what you need to handle adversity through a long season, especially in New York.”
According to manager Aaron Boone, Volpe has “kind of prepared for this his whole life” and is as ready as any player to handle it. The Yankees enjoy seeing his physical skills on display and know that his much-talked-about “makeup” will be put to the test by the many obstacles that come with a 162-game season.
The Yankees began the quest for their first World Series win in 1923, exactly 100 years ago. Fans hope the current Yankees led by Aaron Judge will end their 13-season title drought and repeat that big occasion in 2023. And for Anthony Volpe, they expect him to begin his career with a bang!
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