The buzz is surely around Anthony Volpe, the new prospect for the New York Yankees. Without batting once in the big leagues, fans are already asking him to be promoted to the starting role in the team. In a Spring Training game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Volpe's leadoff single-run home run grabbed the fans' attention.
Volpe was the 30th overall selection in the first round for the Yankees back in the 2019 MLB Draft. Last season he put on impressive performances in the A-leagues. Volpe hit 21 homers last season in 132 games for Double-A Somerset (18) and Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (3), batting a combined .249/.342/.460.
In the game against the Pirates at LECOM Park, Anthony Volpe cleared the left-field wall with a lead-off home run against Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller. The pitch was a 84.1 mph sweeper that went up and away the moment it struck Volpe's bat.
“It’s just been great to play again, with a bunch of great teammates and great guys that have been down here for a while,” Volpe said after the game. “We’ve been training really hard, and everyone’s kind of had these days circled on the calendar to just get back on the field and get back to competing against other [teams], not just each other.”
Fans were thrilled to see their prospective superstar get in on the game from the start. The hype is definitely around him as he is billed as the next big thing since Derek Jeter.
Volpe is also a shortstop like Jeter and fans were quick to point out that Anthony is ready to take up the position in the starting lineup.
However, there are some fans who still feel that Anthony Volpe needs some time before he can make it to the MLB.
Fans were also impressed by the fact that the new prospects in the Yankees lineup were not getting ahead of themselves.
Anthony Volpe's performances have put doubts in Anthony Boone's head
Manager Aaron Boone spoke after the game about Volpe's performances. He will definitely be contemplating putting him in the starting lineup to replace players like Isiah Kiner-Falefa who have fallen out with the Yankees faithful.
“He’s strong,” Boone said. “Great lower half, stays in the ground really well. You see him sit down in his legs, and he doesn’t get cheated. You can see him drive the ball out the other way. He’s not tall, but he’s thick and pretty stout.”
Regardless of whether he takes to the pitch on Opening Day, it is certain that Anthony Volpe has a huge career ahead of him.