New York Yankees fans love rookie Anthony Volpe asking recently retired outfielder Brett Gardner’s permission to wear his old number: "Nice gesture" 

Texas Rangers v New York Yankees
Brett Gardner of the New York Yankees looks on after hitting a double.

Rookie shortstop Anthony Volpe is already a beloved New York Yankees player – and he hasn't played a regular-season game yet.

The latest chapter in Gotham City's infatuation with the annointed heir apparent to Derek Jeter came as the Yes Network reported Wednesday that Volpe asked recently-retired Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner for his permission to wear No. 11. Gardner wore the number in a 14-year career with the Bronx Bombers that ended with his retirement in 2021.

New York Yankees fans were begging to make Anthony Volpe – the team's No. 1 prospect – the squad's opening day shortstop ever since players began reporting to spring training. Most figured the 21-year-old was still a year away, but Volpe forced his way to Yankee Stadium by hitting .302 with two home runs and five RBIs this spring.

Still a day away from making his major league debut, many fans are already seeing the second-coming of Jeter – eight years after his retirement.

Of course, many New York Yankees fans took the occasion of the report to be snarky about Gardner. A solid player for New York, Gardner did not exactly light up the statsheet. For his career in pinstripes, he hit .256 with 139 home runs and 578 RBIs. He led the league with 49 stolen bases in 2011 and was tops for triples in 2013 with 10.

While New York Yankees fans are in agreement that Anthony Volpe's ask of Gardner was polite and decent, many believe it was far from required. While Gardner is well-liked in New York, his greatest claim to fame with the Yankees is being part of the team's last World Series victory, in his rookie year of 2009.

At least one fan is of the consipiracy theory mindset that it was actually Gardner asking Volpe to wear No. 11.

Is Anthony Volpe the next Derek Jeter for the New York Yankees?

Anthony Volpe of the American League looks on before the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.
Anthony Volpe of the American League looks on before the 2022 SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game.

The future is suddenly now for Volpe and the Yankees. Jeter played shortstop in New York and became "The Captain" over a 20-year Hall of Fame career. He hit .310 with 260 home runs, 1,311 RBIs and 1,923 runs.

In addition to being the 1995 American League Rookie of the Year, Jeter was a part of five World Series-winning teams, earned five Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and was a World Series MVP.

Big shoes to fill.

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