From Bryan Hoch:
Anthony Volpe received no promises when he packed his bags in early August, uncertain when – or if – he might walk into Yankee Stadium again. Spending the better part of a month with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, there was only one thing to do: Get to work.
“There was nothing guaranteed,” Volpe said. “You can’t control it. I never thought I was going to be back here in this moment, but I wanted to be ready and prepared in case something happened.”
Even in his wildest bus-ride dreams, Volpe might not have pictured what awaited him on Thursday evening. Volpe returned to the Bronx with a flourish, belting a grand slam and earning a curtain call as part of a three-hit, five-RBI performance in the Yankees’ 10-3 victory over the Rockies.
Here is Anthony Volpe’s 2023 prospect grade, back when he was the 5th best prospect in the game:
Scouting grades: Hit: 60 | Power: 60 | Run: 55 | Arm: 50 | Field: 50 | Overall: 60
After teaming with future No. 2 overall pick Jack Leiter to lead the Delbarton School (Morristown, N.J.) to a state non-public Class A championship in 2019, Volpe turned down the opportunity to join him at Vanderbilt to sign with the Yankees for $2,740,300 as the No. 30 overall choice. Mononucleosis contributed to a lackluster pro debut that summer before he used the pandemic layoff in 2020 to rework his swing and add strength. He has been a different player since, winning MLB Pipeline’s Hitting Prospect of the Year award in 2021 and encoring last season by recovering from a slow start to become the first 20-homer, 50-steal Minor Leaguer since Andruw Jones in 1995.
Volpe stood out as much for his intangibles as his tools when he entered pro ball, but that’s no longer the case after he transformed himself physically. He still has as much pure hitting ability as anyone in the system, but he now has a right-handed stroke geared for loft and produces high exit velocities and power to all fields. He struggled at times against sliders in 2022 and occasionally looked like he was trying to do too much at the plate, but he made adjustments over the course of the year.
Volpe’s work ethic and instincts continue to allow him to get the most out of his physical ability. His solid speed and aggressive nature on the bases led to 50 steals in 57 attempts last season. The lone question is whether his finely tuned internal clock can help him stay at shortstop with average range and arm strength (albeit with a quick release) that may be better suited for second base.
As you’ll note, well, one thing is that it is hilarious that it suggests that second base might be better for him, but specifically you’ll see that his POWER was his calling card when he was a top prospect. A middle infielder with pop is pretty much THE darling of the prospect set, and it is why Volpe was such a highly regarded prospect.
If he has regained some of that pop, then having that in the bottom of the lineup sure wouldn’t be a problem, ya know? Jazz is gone after this season, so there is very much a lane for Volpe here at second base, especially because I imagine that Luis Garcia’s future might be at third over a return to second (or just remaining at first base, and Giancarlo Stanton simply doesn’t play everyday).
Anyhow, great win. I didn’t love that Headrick needed to pitch in this one, but whatever, he didn’t pitch the game before, so it’s no HUGE deal. Everyone but Schreiber and Fulmer should be available for Game 1 against the Mets, so Headrick/Blackburn/Bednar will be able to cover innings 7-9. We just have to hope Rodon and Tim Hill can get through six with a lead, which is no easy ask.
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Jazz QO. It is written.
I’d be fine with that, honestly. I don’t think they’ll do it, though, which is why I think he’s gone, but I think a Jazz QO (and him accepting it) makes a lot of sense.
For how much $$? Will it stop them from doing something more useful, like getting a C who can hit…
i think he has played his way into it and hope he makes it an easy decision with a big autumn.
If $22M can get you a 50/50 second baseman, even prorating for work stoppage, then it might just be worth it. But then where do you put Barry Bonds?
give him the caballero treatment?
or split time with jazz and use him a bit in the of?
seems like jazz is a bit particular about where he likes to play though, unfortunately.
there’s also the option of QO’ing Jazz, he accepting, then trading him to replenish / plenish the farm (depending on if you’re Cashman undercover).
You could also hope for a rebound
Who’s even available at C this offseason?
Rice?
Ryan Jeffers
Earthling down, Bradley Hanner up.
I love the idea of sending Martian down just to keep Boone from continuing to start him.
Jomboy with a comprehensive half hour on everybody’s newest favorite umpire. 8 incidents over 21 years. Mostly contemporaneous breakdowns they already had on hand, but also a new breakdown where Eddings botched a call in the 2005 ALDS that handed a game to the White Sox. Wonder if they ever gave him a ring.
It’s not just the incompetence, it’s the insecurity. At least Eddings is just in baseball and not in law enforcement.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQUZy4h2MK4
It really was baffling watching the fucker just outright LIE. “No, no, that’s just how I call third strikes, even when they are dropped” when he pointedly DIDN’T do that the previous at-bat.
There are plenty of Eddings in law enforcement. Some even in important jobs
Yeah, I’m just thankful that Eddings chose that path, for harm reduction’s sake.
Also thinking today about how different history might be if, a few decades ago, a certain part owner of the Texas Rangers had opted to run for Commissioner of Baseball instead of governor of his home state.
Man, if all it took was ~3 weeks in AAA for Volpe to figure it out…
Clay, how much are you seriously going to take from one game?
Yes, it was fun. Yes, I’d LIKE it to be a harbinger of things to come.
Statistically, it means NOTHING.
Mike Mergenthaler is the Scranton hitting coach. As Bop noted last thread, dude needs a promotion.
Plus I like his last name.