Anthony

Volpe

There is no timeline beyond that, so the shortstop’s return will depend on how his off-season recovery goes. The Yankees went from insisting Volpe wasn’t playing through an injury to likely being without their starting shortstop for at least the first month of the season. Jose Caballero figures to begin the year at short for the Yankees, unless they make a move in the off-season.

Volpe can start hitting in four months, but it’ll be six before he’s allowed to dive on defense, which probably means he’ll spend most of April on the injured list. Boone, who maintained that he didn’t think playing through a labrum tear had much of an effect on Volpe’s performance, also didn’t promise that Volpe would get his starting job back after returning. José Caballero can be penciled in as the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop for now, though the team will add another utility option.

The Yankees have yet to comment, but Volpe apparently had the labrum in his non-throwing shoulder repaired. He was hurt diving for a groundball in May, but he played through it while receiving cortisone shots in June and September. While it’s possible the Yankees will look to move on from Volpe this winter, the fact that he was hurt during his disappointing season should give them pause about selling low.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone will not make any changes with New York facing Blue Jays rookie sensation Trey Yesavage following a lopsided series-opening defeat earlier this weekend. Here’s the full lineup: Trent Grisham (CF), Judge (RF), Cody Bellinger (LF), Ben Rice (1B), Giancarlo Stanton (DH), Jazz Chisholm Jr. (3B), Ryan McMahon (3B), Anthony Volpe (SS) and Austin Wells (C).

Volpe came through with a run-scoring single off of Connelly Early in the fourth inning that extended the Yankees’ lead to 2-0. He would strike out in each of his other three plate appearances on the night. The next battle for the Yankees will be against the Blue Jays in Toronto in the ALDS beginning on Saturday.

Volpe’s opposite-field blast against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet had to feel good for the much-maligned shortstop after a tumultuous regular season where he tied for the American League with 19 errors and was the subject of constant criticism from Yankees fans. He also singled in the eighth inning to snap a streak of 17 consecutive batters retired by Crochet since the round-tripper. The Yankees will have their backs up against the wall in a win-or-go-home Game 2 showdown at Yankee Stadium.

Volpe makes his fourth consecutive start at shortstop with New York aiming to edge the Blue Jays and Red Sox for the AL East division crown. The 24-year-old has been abysmal from a defensive standpoint, but he offers a higher offensive ceiling than speedy utility specialist José Caballero heading into the postseason.

Volpe had Sunday off, but this will be four starts in the Yankees’ last five games for him. José Caballero is again out of the lineup; the Yankees haven’t started him anywhere other than shortstop since putting him at third base last Tuesday.

Caballero gets the nod over Anthony Volpe at shortstop in this one to face Twins righty Taj Bradley. It seems highly unlikely New York will bench Volpe entirely, but we’re anticipating Caballero to continue getting the majority of the opportunities at the spot over the final week-plus of the season. The 29-year-old speedster leads the entire majors with 47 thefts across 119 games this season split between the Rays and Yankees.

Volpe finds himself back at shortstop following a six-game absence due to a lingering left shoulder issue that required a cortisone injection. It recently came to light that he’s been playing through a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder since early May. The 24-year-old’s return comes after José Caballero made a couple prominent mistakes both defensively and on the basepaths during Monday’s shutout loss to the Twins. His long-term future is a bit of an open question, but the Yankees are going to need him for the rest of the season since they don’t have any superior in-house alternatives.