Can Anthony Volpe rebound for the Yankees?

TAMPA, FL - FEBRUARY 27: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees works out during spring training at George M. Steinbrenner Field on February 27, 2026 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by New York Yankees/Getty Images) | Getty Images Oh, Anthony Volpe. Once one of the most promising position player prospe

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What is the story about?

Oh, Anthony Volpe. Once one of the most promising position player prospects the Yankees have produced in recent years, and a feel-good story of the local kid making the team out of spring training back in 2023, Volpe’s penchant for long periods of futility has turned him into one of the most polarizing players on the roster. Hell, it might not even be fair to call Volpe polarizing, as it’s hard to find many members of the fanbase that aren’t fed up with his production as the starting shortstop at this

point.

And yet, in spite of it all, it still sounds as though that the starting job is Volpe’s once he’s able to return this season. Odds are, he’ll get another chance to establish himself as a big-league caliber hitter. Since all signs point to another run with Volpe at short, what are the odds of a significant bounce back?

I use the word significant here because I think most reasonable observers would allow that some bounce back should be expected from Volpe, if only because he was so bad for so long in 2025 that at least a tiny improvement seems inevitable. But what about a real improvement, one that brings the Yankees closer to contending thanks to the emergence of an average-or better-player at shortstop in the form of a healthy Volpe?

I’m sure the gut reaction for some will be simple: no chance. But let’s be optimists for a moment. Perhaps the most frustrating part of Volpe’s 2025 campaign was revealed after the season, as it came out that the infielder had played through a torn labrum that needed to be surgically repaired. Volpe injured his shoulder in early May, and before that injury, he was playing some of the best baseball of his career. He was slashing .239/.333/.453 and looked about as good on defense in April as he did during his first two seasons, putting him on pace for a career year in the early going.

Of course, Volpe got hurt, and looked like one of the worst regular starters in the bigs for a solid four-month stretch, posting a .628 OPS from May 3rd until the end of the season while playing sloppy defense. So, the question of whether a notable rebound lurks comes down in large part to whether you believe that better health will lead to much improved form from Volpe. It’s easy to argue that a shoulder ailment serious enough to warrant surgery after the season was a major factor in Volpe’s struggles, but Volpe himself has downplayed the impact the injury had, and one could point out that the injury was to his non-throwing shoulder for evidence that his defensive regression wasn’t health related.

If I had to guess, my bet is that a return to health will help Volpe return to something resembling his 2023/2024 performance, but that that won’t be enough to assuage the concerns so many fans and analysts have about his present and future as a player. What do you think? Is there a fair chance of a real bounce back from Volpe? Or will the Yankees still just be spinning their wheels with their former top prospect?

Today on the site, John will recap Tuesday night’s WBC action, and Michael will preview Austin Wells’ upcoming campaign. Later, Maximo will look at the Cincinnati Reds as part of our 2026 MLB Preview, and John will deliver the latest Making the Team Meter, taking a look at how the Yankees’ few positional battles are playing out so far. Also, Matt wishes a Happy Birthday to a player who had a great, short run in New York, Bobby Abreu.