It appears the Yankees’ previous everyday shortstop is poised for a return to Major League Baseball.
Anthony Volpe, recovering from left shoulder surgery last October, achieved a 2-for-4 performance with Double-A Somerset on Wednesday during his tenth rehabilitation appearance. This boosted his rehab assignment average to .303, going 10-for-33.
However, following an initial slump, the Yankees’ current starting shortstop has truly embodied the role.
Jose Caballero, acquired at the 2025 trade deadline, has energized the Yankees with his impressive base-running and versatile defensive skills, currently boasting a .267 batting average, three home runs, a .713 OPS, and 12 stolen bases on 16 attempts.
The Yankees have generally experienced an unproblematic period concerning their roster management and allocation of playing opportunities.
Minor issues have surfaced occasionally, specifically the early-season split of playing time between Ben Rice and Paul Goldschmidt—a situation manager Aaron Boone resisted labeling a ‘platoon’ despite its obvious characteristics. Nevertheless, Rice’s stellar performance (.327/.443/.714 with 10 home runs) has compelled the Yankees to secure playing time for Goldschmidt—which he requires and merits—beyond just facing difficult left-handed pitchers.
As Volpe nears clearance—potentially as early as Friday night, coinciding with the Yankees’ four-game series opener against the Orioles at their home stadium, or shortly thereafter—the critical roster decisions for the 2026 regular season will officially begin for the team.
Ostensibly, the situation isn’t overly complex. The classic sports adage stating an injured player doesn’t forfeit their starting role is qualified by whether the player’s previous performance warranted retaining it.
Objectively speaking, Volpe’s initial three seasons as the starting shortstop—which actually contained more commendable aspects than many Yankees supporters acknowledge—don’t align with that condition. However, this doesn’t definitively establish Caballero as the long-term solution for the season, nor does it preclude Volpe from eventually reclaiming the role.
Nonetheless, the Yankees’ starting shortstop position is not a permanent assignment. Caballero, boasting an 18-for-49 (.367) record, two home runs, two doubles, and six stolen bases over his recent 14 games, has exceeded the team’s expectations.
Is this level of production maintainable? Caballero’s historical statistics indicate otherwise; his career batting average and on-base percentage over his three preceding MLB seasons (2023-25) were .228 and .316, respectively. Despite this, his current output provides no compelling reason to remove him from the daily lineup (though he should moderate his interactions with umpires).
Predictably, Boone shows minimal inclination to discuss this subject until absolutely necessary. Regarding Volpe’s prospects, he stated on Wednesday, ‘We’ll see. He’s playing again today [in Somerset]. We’ll see.’
When questioned further about Volpe’s position upon his return, Boone reiterated his earlier response. He stated, ‘We’ll see. It’s Wednesday. He’s playing in Somerset today. We’ll see.’
Brian Cashman, the general manager, seemed to clarify the team’s intentions on April 10 when he was asked directly: Will Volpe resume his role as the starting shortstop upon his comeback?
“That has consistently been the strategy,” he responded, before
almost instinctively appending: “However, the final decision rests with the manager.”
It’s important to understand that the Yankees meticulously portray every roster and deployment decision, particularly those concerning the lineup, as exclusively Boone’s. They prefer not to be perceived as operating collaboratively, despite doing so, much like nearly every other team.
This, however, does not imply that the manager is merely a puppet, with his actions covertly directed by unseen forces within the organization.
Confidential deliberations regarding Volpe and Caballero have been occurring, extending through Thursday. Unsurprisingly, a consensus of opinion on the matter is currently lacking.
Boone’s perspective will be highly influential, though not solely decisive. While any decision made will likely provoke immediate, strong reactions, it’s crucial to recall that five months of the season still lie ahead. Volpe beginning as shortstop on May 1 does not guarantee he will hold that role on September 1, and the same applies to Caballero.
Perhaps neither player will fill the role. It could potentially be George Lombard Jr., who was recently elevated to Triple-A this week. While a long shot, it’s not entirely out of the question.
This season, the Yankees appear to be making some of their choices with a notably dispassionate approach, which reflects positively on them.
Nevertheless, these developments remain thoroughly captivating.
Erik Boland started in Newsday’s sports department in 2002. He covered high school and college sports, then shifted to the Jets beat. He has covered the Yankees since 2009.