The Bombers are heading into the final full month of the 2025 season, doing so well within reach of the top spot in the American League East. September will hold wall-to-wall must-win games for the Yankees as they make a charge for a prominent playoff spot, but with August now behind us, there is plenty to revel in from the past month. As always, it was a stretch that featured plenty of highlights with the glove, so let’s take a look at some Yankees flashing the leather over the last month.
August
4th: Volpe spins and saves the lead
In an important series against the Rangers early in the month, the Yankees benefitted plenty from the defense of Anthony Volpe. Holding a slim one-run lead in the fourth inning, Max Fried had allowed runners on second and third with two outs, with the ever-dangerous Marcus Semien up to the plate. The Rangers second baseman roped a ball up the middle, only for Volpe to snag it, quickly get to his feet, and make a perfect one-hop throw to retire Semien, and end the inning. Although they ultimately lost this game, Volpe’s slick play at short held their lead for at least another inning.
August 10th: Jazz ranges into no-man’s land
Some of the best defensive plays we see, or at least the highest degree of difficulty, come when a player is in uncharted territory for their position. For an infielder, ranging straight backwards into the outfield for a pop up is about as hard as it gets. Not only is there a difficult play to make, but there could be two or three other players closing in on the ball at full speed as well. Here, Jazz Chisholm Jr. made it look easy, making an over-the-shoulder catch between three other Yankee defenders to kick off the third inning against Houston.
August 15th: Caballero slides, but not for a stolen base
In a rare trip to St. Louis, the Yankees carried a comfortable lead into the fourth inning against the Cards. Against Luis Gil, Thomas Saggese slashed a ball into right field that could have easily gone for extra bases and started a Cardinals rally. Thankfully, the speedy José Caballero (who is accustomed to sliding in any of his 41 stolen bases) slid feet first to secure the slicing line drive, and help to continue keeping St. Louis out of the run column. Low liners can be among the hardest plays for an outfielder to make, and Caballero made it look easy here.
August 16th: Volpe saves another
This isn’t déjà vu, this is just Anthony Volpe making yet another sweet play on the left side, saving a different one-run lead in the middle of August. This time, in St. Louis, Volpe ranges to his backhand side, sliding to make the play, before getting his plant foot down quickly and delivering a strong one-hopper over to Paul Goldschmidt at first base to help maintain their 5-4 lead. For as criticized as his defense at shortstop has been, Volpe is also no stranger to making the big play when the time comes.
August 26th: Jazz lays out up the middle
During the Yankees vital sweep of the Nationals toward the end of the month, Jazz flashed the leather once again, this time on a ball with much lower trajectory off the bat. With a runner on second and no outs in the third inning, Jacob Young lined a ball that seemed destined to roll up the middle, before Jazz dove to catch the liner before it touched grass. He even gave a valiant effort trying to make a double play on the runner at second, and although it was unsuccessful, Jazz kept it exciting as always.
