Yankees’ starting shortstop Anthony Volpe had a close call with a significant injury during Thursday night’s 9–4 loss to the Los Angeles Angels. Volpe, who has appeared in 115 games this season, fouled a ball off his left foot, causing him to collapse in obvious pain. The Yankees opted to pull him from the game early for imaging.
Luckily, the Yankees Averted a More Serious Situation
Thankfully, Volpe’s x-rays came back clear, confirming that the injury isn’t severe. However, he may still be dealing with a painful bruise for a few days. Considering the injury and the Yankees’ intention to give him some rest, it’s unlikely Volpe will play on Friday. The team is set to face the Texas Rangers, and they might shift Oswaldo Cabrera to shortstop in his absence.
Fortunately, Volpe was in “good spirits,” according to manager Aaron Boone after the loss.
“He’s in pretty good spirits right now,” Boone said. “We’re treating it as a contusion. Hopefully, everything is alright, and he’s back out there soon.”
This season, Volpe is batting .257/.304/.401, with 11 home runs, 45 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases. Since the All-Star break, the Yankees’ young shortstop has been hitting .320 with a .587 slugging percentage, finally hitting his stride. The timing of the injury couldn’t have been worse.
A Defensive Standout
Defensively, the 23-year-old has been among the top shortstops in the league, with a .974 fielding percentage, four defensive runs saved, and 12 outs above average. It’s likely that either Oswaldo Cabrera or Jazz Chisholm will step in at shortstop, with Cabrera being the more probable choice. The 25-year-old utility player is hitting .243 this season with eight home runs and 34 RBIs. He’s been a reliable backup, and this is the type of situation where Boone is likely to turn to him to fill the gap.
