For Anthony Volpe, the 2025 season was a test of resilience. The New York Yankees shortstop endured a year defined by defensive miscues and offensive inconsistency, culminating in career-low numbers that fell short of expectations for one of the franchise’s cornerstone players.
Now entering his fourth Major League Baseball season, the 24-year-old is determined to ensure that 2026 tells a different story.
Speaking Tuesday for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, Volpe made it clear he will not use the injury as an excuse if he falls off in 2026.
Though the damage proved worse than initial tests indicated – and required him to go under the knife after playing through discomfort – the young infielder took full ownership of his performance.
“I know I could have played better,” Volpe said on Tuesday after the Yankees worked out at George M. Steinbrenner Field.
“I felt strong and good enough to go. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have. But you definitely learn a lot about yourself. Then when you see what ended up happening and having to get surgery, you learn a lot about the mindset and how you got to be self-aware and aware of certain things going on.
“If you’re going to play through it, how to perform and do the best you can.”
A career low for Volpe
Statistically, 2025 marked a step backward. Volpe finished the season with a .212 batting average and a .272 on-base percentage – both career lows – while tallying 114 hits, 19 home runs, 72 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.
Though flashes of power and speed remained evident, his consistency at the plate wavered throughout the campaign. Defensively, the struggles were even more pronounced.
Volpe tied Trevor Story for the most errors in the American League with 19.
He also posted career lows in putouts (171), assists (326) and fielding percentage (96.3 percent), a surprising downturn for a player previously lauded for his reliability and instincts at shortstop.
Despite the setbacks, the Yankees are expected to keep Volpe as their starting shortstop heading into 2026.
Volpe’s importance for the future to the Yankees
The organization continues to view him as a foundational piece, and a rebound season would carry significant implications not only for his trajectory but also for the club’s broader postseason ambitions.
For his part, Volpe insists his confidence remains intact: “The chip I have on my shoulder has been there for my whole life, my whole career,” he said.
“I just can’t wait to go back out there and play and feel good and perform and help the team win, because at the end of the day, if I do that and I play the way I know I can play, everything will take care of itself.
“And I appreciate everything. I appreciate the accountability. I appreciate everything that comes with being the shortstop for the New York Yankees, so I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
It’s clear that chip on his shoulder is fueling his offseason preparation. After confronting both physical limitations and statistical regression, Volpe appears intent on transforming a humbling year into a catalyst for growth.
For the Yankees, that can only be a good thing. A sharper, healthier version of their shortstop could be one of the most important developments of the 2026 season.
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