LOS ANGELES — As a diehard Yankees fan who idolized Derek Jeter whereas rising up in New York and New Jersey, Anthony Volpe traveled to Minneapolis in 2014 for the Corridor of Fame shortstop’s final All-Star Sport.
Included in that journey was watching the Futures Sport, two days earlier than the main leaguers took the stage at Goal Discipline.
Eight years later, Volpe was on the Futures Sport once more — this time batting cleanup and enjoying shortstop for the AL staff at Dodger Stadium.
“It’s not too usually you get to play towards the most effective of the most effective, so I’m actually excited,” Volpe stated earlier than going 0-for-2 with two strikeouts. “To date it’s been loopy. It’s one thing I’ll bear in mind for the remainder of my life.”
For the 21-year-old Volpe, the No. 8 prospect in baseball per MLB.com, the expertise was all of the extra particular as a result of he was capable of signify (together with outfielder Jasson Dominguez and pitcher Ken Waldichuk) the staff he grew up rooting for.
“It’s an enormous honor to be representing the Yankees — in the whole lot we do — however simply to be right here with JD and Ken, it’s a brilliant nice honor,” Volpe stated.
The opposite aspect of being a prime prospect, in fact, is being included in commerce rumors for prime gamers, particularly as a part of a World Collection-contending group such because the Yankees. Whereas the information that Nationals famous person Juan Soto could possibly be dealt earlier than the Aug. 2 commerce deadline introduced Volpe’s identify into any potential Yankees deal, he was not eager about that risk.
“It’s tremendous out of my management,” Volpe stated. “I’m right here in L.A. with a number of the finest minor leaguers within the recreation. … It’s only a nice, once-in-a-lifetime alternative that if I used to be spending any brainpower eager about like that, it might be taking away from how a lot enjoyable I’m having.”
Volpe began the season off gradual at Double-A Somerset, hitting .165 with 4 house runs and a .607 OPS by way of his first 29 video games. However over his final 48 video games, he's hitting .303 with eight house runs and a .933 OPS. General this 12 months, he's batting .253 with a .812 OPS whereas going 35-for-39 in stolen bases.
That comes after an offseason during which the Yankees didn't signal any of the highest shortstops on the free-agent market — partially due to Volpe and Triple-A shortstop Oswald Peraza, the Yankees’ No. 2 prospect behind Volpe. Each had been talked about by Hal Steinbrenner in spring coaching when explaining the membership’s non-pursuit of stars like Carlos Correa, Corey Seager and Trevor Story.
“That’s clearly nice to listen to from somebody like that,” Volpe stated. “However on the finish of the day, I really feel like I've an extended technique to go. That is clearly an excellent step in my profession, however there’s nonetheless a number of work to be accomplished. Even once I hopefully get there in the future, there’s nonetheless much more work to be accomplished to be the participant I wish to be and hopefully win a number of World Collection.”
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