New York Yankees fans ecstatic as No. 1 prospect Anthony Volpe playing his way into Opening Day roster: "Let the kid play!" "I’m f***in ready!" 

The New York Yankees' No. 1 prospect, Anthony Volpe, has long been thought to be the shortstop the team has been aching for since Derek Jeter retired in 2014. However, while Volpe has been endorsed by none other than Jeter himself, it has been assumed that he was still a season away from inheriting the role.

Not so fast.

According to Yankees' play-by-play announcer Michael Kay, who calls games on the team's YES Network, Volpe has "a real shot" of making the opening day roster this year.

While Volpe only saw 22 games with New York's top farm club – Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre – last season, the 21-year-old hit .353 with a home run, two doubles, five runs scored and three stolen bases over his first six spring training games.

The news that Volpe, the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft and the No. 5 overall prospect in all of baseball, could be on the fast track to Yankee Stadium this season has certainly grasped the imagination of the Bronx faithful – who are entirely ready to get a jump start on the future.

Volpe was thought to be sort-of blocked in any pursuit of becoming the New York Yankees' shortstop in 2023 by a couple of players. One, journeyman infielder Isiah Kiner-Falefa, excites no one in New York. However, the other is fellow infield prospect Oswald Peraza.

Peraza, 22 years of age with a two-year head start on Volpe in the Yankees' farm system, was called up to the big leagues in September and performed well both late in the season, as well as the playoffs.

However, there may be a place for both Peraza and Volpe up the middle for New York.

The New York Yankees have seen their share of injuries this spring. One injury in particular – a left forearm strain being experienced by free-agent signee and planned-for No. 2 starting pitcher Carlos Rodon – is of particular concern as Rodon has had Tommy John surgery in the past.

Rumors are gaining steam that New York may be in the market for another starting pitcher and could be offering second baseman Gleyber Torres as a prospective return.

While Peraza has played some second base in the minors, would the Yankees really hand their entire middle infield over to a pair of rookies?

Did we mention that Derek Jeter is a Volpe fan?

Is it already Volpe Time for the New York Yankees?

Isiah Kiner-Falefa of the New York Yankees runs in to score.

All conventional wisdom indicates that Kiner-Falefa ends up starting for the Yankees on opening day. But for a team, and a fan base, that is growing ever more impatient to win the World Series for the first time since 2009, is that the right move? As the old saying goes, fortune favors the bold.