TAMPA — Even after a post-op consultation revealed the extent of the damage in his shoulder was worse than initial imaging suggested, Anthony Volpe declined to blame his poor 2025 season on his battered body.
The Yankees’ shortstop underwent left shoulder arthroscopic labral surgery in mid-October after playing with a torn labrum for most of the season. The campaign also saw the Gold Glover become a liability on defense while remaining a below league-average hitter.
“I know I could have played better, and I felt strong and good enough to go,” Volpe said Tuesday. “If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have. But you definitely learn a lot about yourself, and then when you see what ended up happening and having to get surgery and everything like that, you learn a lot about the mindset and how you gotta be self-aware and aware of certain things going on and how to, if you’re going to play through, perform and do the best you can.”
Now Volpe is set to begin his fourth season in the majors, a critical one for the 24-year-old, on the injured list. He will spend the spring rehabbing; he began his hitting progression with dry swings on Monday. His next steps are tee and soft-toss work.
The last step in Volpe’s rehab progression will require him to show that he can dive on his shoulder. He’s not exactly sure how he’ll practice that, but he hopes to take that step in a couple of weeks.
As for a return to the big leagues, Volpe didn’t want to commit to a timeline. But he did say sometime in April is “definitely” possible.
While he’s on the shelf, utilityman José Caballero is expected to start at shortstop for the Yankees. The pesky utilityman, acquired from the Rays last summer, commanded more playing time at short last September as Volpe struggled and recovered from a cortisone shot.
However, Volpe reclaimed the job by season’s end and started each of the Yankees’ postseason games at short.
With Caballero now hoping to warrant more serious consideration for the full-time gig in Volpe’s absence, the latter is keeping a chip on his surgically repaired shoulder.
“The chip I have on my shoulder has been there for my whole life, my whole career,” Volpe 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.”
