Two rising Yankees talents destined for All-Star debut
- June 14, 2024
- 9:16 am
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Follow UsGoing by both performance and fan sentiment, the New York Yankees’ two players — Anthony Volpe and Luis Gil — look certain to make their All-Star debuts this year. Both have a record-breaking year this season.
Yankees’ Volpe makes case for All-Star selection
New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe, 23, has made remarkable progress in his second season, drawing significant attention from MLB insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The insider has highlighted Volpe as a contender to start at shortstop for the American League in the upcoming All-Star Game, recognizing his impressive offensive and defensive contributions.
Though the Yankees sophomore may not yet rival superstar shortstops like Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals and Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles, Rosenthal asserts that Volpe still merits recognition among the top shortstops in the AL. In a discussion with Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Rosenthal noted how Volpe, the reigning AL Gold Glove Award winner, has elevated his defensive play this season.
In the 2024 season, through 68 games, Volpe has achieved a slash line of .274/.334/.423 with a .757 OPS, including seven home runs, 25 RBIs, and 12 stolen bases. After a rookie season in which he posted a 20-20 performance, Volpe appears poised to meet or exceed those numbers this year.
Although comparisons to Yankees legend Derek Jeter have surfaced, Volpe is establishing his own identity, showing significant improvement from his rookie year. His success is also supported by the Yankees’ strong lineup, where he leads off, followed by Juan Soto, Aaron Judge, and a rotating cleanup spot shared by Giancarlo Stanton and Alex Verdugo. This formidable lineup provides Volpe with excellent protection, enhancing his game as the season advances.
Volpe’s development and skill refinement have given the Yankees organization and fans ample reason for excitement about his future. While he may not yet match the league’s elite shortstops, Volpe’s trajectory indicates he has the potential to become a key figure in the Yankees’ lineup for years to come.
Yankees’ Luis Gil has a real chance at All-Star call
Yankees pitcher Luis Gil boasts the third-best ERA (2.04) among qualified American League starters and the lowest opponent batting average (.136) in MLB. This season marks Gil’s first full campaign since his surgery. He logged just four minor league innings last September. When he takes the mound Friday at Fenway Park, he will add to his current tally of 75 innings, nearing his career-high of 108 2/3 innings recorded across both minors and majors in 2021.
Given his current pace, Gil is on track to surpass his previous career-high in innings by early July, prompting questions about how the Yankees will manage his workload. However, Gil appears unconcerned about the potential strain on his arm.
Despite uncertainties surrounding his durability, Gil’s standout performance this season makes him a strong candidate for the All-Star Game.
Manager Aaron Boone shared Gil’s optimism, stating that the Yankees are closely monitoring the young pitcher’s health. This includes not only Gil’s own feedback but also data analysis on his arm slot and velocity. Boone noted that Gil has been holding up well and there haven’t been any talks about reducing his workload yet.
He has effectively replaced ace and six-time All-Star Gerrit Cole on the Yankees’ rotation. With his contributions, the team no longer feel the need of its top arm. Gil, who has impressively limited opponents to three hits or fewer in 10 of his 13 starts this season, remains confident in his physical condition and readiness to pitch deep into the year.
While the 26-year-old’s All-Star credentials are clear for pitching in the All-Star Game at Globe Life Field in Texas, Gil is eager to participate, calling it a blessing and a dream come true.
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