Yankees face much bigger problem as Anthony Volpe quietly undergoes surgery

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NEW YORK — The New York Yankees believed their shortstop problems were finally solved with Anthony Volpe. Instead, those concerns might only be starting.

Volpe underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, a procedure performed by team physician Dr. Christopher Ahmad. The announcement came quietly, without fanfare or press release, surfacing only days after the Yankees’ postseason elimination against the Toronto Blue Jays in the Division Series.

The timing and secrecy surrounding the operation have raised serious questions about Volpe’s health, recovery timeline, and availability for the 2026 season — and about how the Yankees handled the injury in the first place.

Recovery timeline creates uncertainty for Yankees

Sports orthopedic specialist Dr. Spencer Stein of NYU Langone Health provided a realistic recovery window that may concern fans and the Yankees’ front office alike.

“Recovery from surgery is usually six-to-nine months, so he’d probably miss at least the first few months of the season,” Dr. Stein told NJ Advance Media. “Anytime that you’re fixing something like a labrum, it may heal in three or four months. But then to really get your strength back, everybody’s different, but I would estimate six-to-nine months.”

That estimate means Volpe could miss most of spring training and potentially not return until June 2026. The Yankees will now need to plan accordingly for a possible long-term absence from their starting shortstop.

Volpe’s season of struggles

The injury traces back to May 3, when Volpe dove for a ground ball and felt a sharp pop in his left shoulder. He finished the game but sat out the following day. Soon after, he returned to the lineup and played through lingering pain for the rest of the season.

The impact was evident in his numbers. Volpe hit just .212 with a .663 OPS, striking out 150 times in 596 plate appearances. He also committed 19 errors, tied for the most among all shortstops in Major League Baseball.

Manager Aaron Boone downplayed the idea that the injury affected Volpe’s performance.

“I don’t think it’s been a major factor in his performance,” Boone said in September.

If Boone’s assessment holds true, the Yankees have an even bigger issue — one that points to development and approach rather than health alone.

Limited options create pressure

Volpe’s injury leaves the Yankees in a difficult spot. The upcoming free-agent market offers limited quality at shortstop. Bo Bichette headlines the list of potential targets, but questions persist about whether his defense is still good enough to handle the position.

Another possible option, Ha-Seong Kim, could opt out of his deal with Atlanta, but he has battled injuries and seen a dip in offensive production over the past two seasons.

Internally, Jose Caballero appeared in nine games at shortstop late in the year when Volpe’s defensive struggles peaked. The Yankees turned back to Volpe for the playoffs, a decision that now seems questionable. Oswaldo Cabrera could compete for time, but neither player profiles as a true everyday solution on a championship-level team.

The Cashman dilemma

General Manager Brian Cashman now faces renewed scrutiny over his handling of Volpe and the roster at large. Cashman has long described Volpe as “untouchable” in trade talks, insisting he was the franchise’s shortstop of the future.

Those statements will face new examination during the Yankees’ end-of-season press conference on Thursday. Fans and reporters alike will demand answers: Why did the team let Volpe play through the injury? Was it misdiagnosed? And what is the organization’s plan if his recovery extends into the summer?

Volpe’s late-season and postseason struggles only deepen the concern. Against the Blue Jays, he went 3-for-23 with 15 strikeouts over six playoff games. His poor performance reflected the broader offensive collapse that defined the Yankees’ early postseason exit.

Historical comparisons offer hope

There is still optimism about Volpe’s long-term outlook. As Joel Sherman of the New York Post noted, Volpe is only 24 years old, the same age Aaron Judge was when he broke into the majors in 2016.

Sherman also drew parallels to Dansby Swanson, who endured early struggles with the Braves. Through his age-25 season, Swanson owned an 84 OPS+ and led the league in errors. Yet he eventually blossomed into an All-Star shortstop, earning a seven-year, $177 million contract.

“There is an upside for Volpe that has not been hit yet,” Sherman said in a video analysis.

But that potential can only materialize if Volpe recovers fully. The shoulder surgery introduces a new variable that could shape his development and timing heading into next season.

Financial implications

Volpe is entering his first year of arbitration and is projected to earn $3.9 million in 2026. The Yankees are unlikely to move on from their investment, both financially and philosophically.

As the team’s 2019 first-round draft pick, Volpe was fast-tracked through the minor leagues and anointed as the shortstop of the future when he debuted in 2023. Walking away now would not only signal a failed development path but also create a major void at one of the game’s most demanding positions.

For a franchise already facing public criticism for underperforming, such an admission would be damaging.

The bigger picture

The Yankees haven’t won a World Series since 2009, and their inability to develop consistent position players has become a recurring theme. Volpe was expected to break that trend — a homegrown success story who could stabilize the infield and inject youth into an aging roster.

Instead, his surgery adds another layer of uncertainty. What was supposed to be a cornerstone piece has become another question mark in an organization full of them.

The Blue Jays exposed those flaws in the ALDS. While Toronto’s young core continues to improve, the Yankees remain heavily dependent on veteran stars and inconsistent prospects.

Cashman has promised changes in the wake of yet another early exit. But Volpe’s surgery means the front office can’t afford to wait for him to develop at his own pace. The team will need an immediate solution to remain competitive in 2026.

The offseason clock is already ticking. Free agents are negotiating elsewhere. Trade discussions are starting to heat up. And the Yankees still have no clear answer at shortstop.

Volpe’s recovery could go smoothly, or it could stretch well into the summer. Either way, the Yankees’ once-stable infield plans are now in flux. What was meant to be a cornerstone position has turned into a crisis — one quietly set in motion by a surgery that caught everyone off guard.

For now, the Yankees can only wait and hope that Anthony Volpe’s recovery brings the stability they’ve been searching for since Derek Jeter’s final season — a stability that, once again, feels painfully out of reach.

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