Anthony Volpe will add a new position to his major league career. The New York Yankees placed the Infielder as a starter in third base for the first game of the double billboard this Friday against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.
It will be Volpe's first appearance at the hot corner at the Major League level and represents another step in the Yankees process to increase their defensive versatility before the start of the postseason.
Volpe appears seventh in the offensive order for the first match, while George Lombard Jr. remains in the shortstop and José Caballero ranks second base. The setup offers a sample of the different combinations that Aaron Boone is willing to evaluate during the last regular season games.
The Yankees test Volpe in a new position
The decision did not appear unexpectedly. During the last few days, Volpe has been carrying out specific practices in third base and the coaching staff had advanced that he would probably receive some opportunity in that position before starting the playoffs.
The player assured after one of those trainings that he felt comfortable with the necessary movements in the prelude. Although the position requires adjustments, Volpe considers that some of the defensive actions, especially charging towards the ball and making crossed throws, have similarities to the work he did for years as a shortstop.
Volpe's third-base professional experience remains limited. During his stay this season with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre made only three starts in that position. He also worked extensively at second base as part of the Yankees plan to expand his defensive value.
George Lombard Jr. remains in the shortstop
Volpe's movement to the third does not imply an immediate return to the shortstop. The Yankees have decided to keep George Lombard Jr. in that position after the young man's impact since his arrival in the Major Leagues.
Lombard Jr. comes from becoming one of the 6-4 victory figures over Tampa Bay, connecting the two-run home run that broke the tie in the eighth inning. Its growth over the last few weeks has strengthened its position within the New York inner side.
That forces the Yankees to look for different paths to keep other players available. Volpe had already started that process since his return from Triple-A, when he went on to occupy second base during the absence of Jazz Chisholm Jr.
Volpe has had to reinvent his role with the Yankees
Volpe's season has been very different from the previous ones. After starting his Yankees regular shortstop career, he was sent to Triple-A during the summer and there he began receiving opportunities in different positions.
In the minors he made 19 starts at second base, 15 as shortstop and three in third. The goal was to increase his defensive flexibility and prepare him for different scenarios in case of returning to the big team.
That opportunity came on September 10, when the Yankees called him back after placing Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the injured list. Volpe immediately responded with a Grand Slam and five RBIs in his first comeback match.
Since then he has had to get used to a different reality: there is no longer a single position reserved for him and his value for the roster also depends on the ability to defend different places in the painting.
Third base remains an open position for October
The proof also comes amid the decisions that the Yankees still have to make around third base.
Ryan McMahon continues to be one of the main alternatives and comes from producing five races, including a Grand Slam, during the 9-2 victory over Tampa Bay. José Caballero and Amed Rosario also offer options depending on the confrontation.
For that reason, placing Volpe in third does not necessarily mean that New York has already made a final decision for the playoffs. What it does is give Boone an additional chance when he has to build the alignment or make movements during a short series.
Versatility can be especially important in the wild card. A player capable of covering various positions allows offensive changes without losing so many defensive alternatives for the last innings.
A test thinking directly about the playoffs
The Yankees are already assured of their presence in the postseason, so the last games of the regular calendar offer an opportunity to try combinations that could appear again in October.
Volpe's debut in third base is part of that process.
For the player it will be the opportunity to show that he can adapt to another position. For Boone, it will be one more evaluation before defining which combination of the inner box offers you greater balance between defense, offense and depth.
The final decision for the Wild Card is still pending, but one thing is clear: the Yankees want to reach October with as many alternatives as possible, and Anthony Volpe will now have the opportunity to show that it can also be one of them from third base.