The New York Yankees’ top shortstop prospect, Anthony Volpe, recently committed a rare fielding error at shortstop and faced the wrath of the fans for the same.
Anthony Volpe, Volpe, 21, was drafted by the New York Yankees in the initial round of the 2019 MLB Draft. He’s considered one of the team’s top prospects and is expected to make his way to the majors in the coming years or even this season by god’s grace. Clearly, he has shaken up the spring training by hitting .308, along with 2 home runs and 5 stolen bases.
Apparently, the prospect is currently fighting an intense shortstop battle with his fellow colleague, Oswald Peraza. However, despite putting up impressive numbers, he is lagging behind in the race due to a lack of minor-league experience. Moreover, Peraza’s extensive defensive skills further weaken Volpe’s case. Further, Volpe’s defensive lapse in a recent spring training outing has now left fans second-guessing his inclusion in the roster.
Anthony Volpe Commits A Defensive Gaffe, Gets Trolled On Social Media
The New York Yankees faced Detriot Tigers on Tuesday in a spring training game. Anthony Volpe started as a shortstop over Oswald Peraza. The Yankees have ensured that both the prospects get an equal amount of game time before they conclude the battle. And, in the fourth inning, a hit came straight to Volpe at the infield, who shockingly failed to grab it. The ball later traveled to the outfield and was called a hit. The miscue comes at a time when Volpe is literally bossing around in the Grapefruit League with all-around performances.
On top of that, the misfield marked one rare instance of Anthony Volpe’s misjudgment in the field. Apart from it, the prospect has set no foot wrong in their entire league. However, the one instance is enough for fans to question his credibility at shortstop. The fans thronged Twitter to criticize Volpe for his actions. While some called it a silly mistake, others showed some support citing his inexperience. Moreover, a fan also suggested that this mistake could cost him his shortstop position to Oswald Peraza.
How The Yankees Lineup Would Like If Volpe Received A Call-Up
The New York Yankees are seriously considering giving Anthony Volpe a chance at the opening-day roster. He could start at shortstop if the front office deems it appropriate. However, promoting the 21-year-old to the major league at this stage does not look like a wise choice. The guy has just 99 plate appearances in the minors. Hence, the Yanks should probably send him back to minors, at least for the first half of the tournament. Oswald Peraza is the most appropriate candidate for the role as of now.
Regardless, if the Yankees still decide to play along with the gamble, here’s what the New York Yankees opening day lineup will look like. Anthony Volpe (SS), Aaron Judge (RF), Anthony Rizzo (1B), Giancarlo Stanton (DH), DJ LeMahieu (3B), Gleyber Torres (2B), Jose Trevino (C), Aaron Hicks (CF), Oswaldo Cabrera (LF)
