An unnamed MLB scout has recently passed a strong opinion on the foreseeable future of New York Yankees prospect Anthony Volpe.
Anthony Volpe, the highly regarded shortstop prospect for the New York Yankees, has made constant headlines all spring training with an extraordinary display of skill set. The prospect is fighting a perpetuated battle to claim the ultimate spot of the starting shortstop in the opening-day lineup. However, Volpe has met with intense competition from Oswald Peraza, a fellow 22-year-old prospect.
As the fierce battle goes down to the wire, fans have no clear winner just yet. The Yankees’ top brass themselves are in a fix and conducting a marathon of meetings to come up with a unanimous decision. While both the prospects have built a solid case for themselves, an anonymous MLB scout has delivered a bold verdict on Anthony Volpe and shut down his chances of being a long-term shortstop.
MLB Scout Discredits Anthony Volpe As A Major League Shortstop
Anthony Volpe ranked first in MLB’s top shortstop prospects list this year. He began his spring training campaign with a lot of hype and expectations. Further, Volpe lived up to it by hitting .308 with 12 hits, 2 home runs, and 3 RBIs in 39 at-bats. On top of that, he made a few skillful defensive plays in the infield. However, his numbers do not sit well with an MLB scout who refuses to consider Volpe as a player who could succeed in Major League as a primary shortstop.
An MLB scout who wished to stay unnamed spoke to Dan Martin of the New York Post and delivered his verdict on the New York Yankees’ ongoing shortstop battle. He said that he sees Anthony Volpe more as a second baseman. The scout cited the example of former Boston Red Sox baseman Dustin Pedroia. Dustin had a successful 14-year-long career in MLB as a second baseman. Hence, the scout drew a comparison between Volpe and Dustin and said that Volpe has similar traits to Dustin and thus should consider being a second baseman.
Yankees Veteran Recommends Volpe For Shortstop Role
Meanwhile, Anthony Volpe has found support from multiple senior players of the New York Yankees team. DJ LeMahieu, the team’s second baseman, has rallied behind Volpe and called him a “big-leaguer.” Further, DJ lauded the shortstop’s talent and is rest assured that he is ready to feature in the major league. The baseman sense Volpe’s great intent and love for the game and hence want him to feature in the opening-day lineup.
However, whether or not Anthony Volpe makes it to the final 26-man roster remains to be seen. The 21-year-old first needs to cement his place in the roster before dreaming of being a regular shortstop candidate. Regardless, the major league debut is not far away from Volpe’s reach. Even if he fails to book a spot for the opening day, the prospect has received a call-up after mid-season.
