Please Give Anthony Volpe a Breather
Seriously. It’s been bad.
Way back in February, I was wishcasting improvements for Anthony Volpe. After all, he’s young, he’s shown tantalizing potential at the highest level, and he’s not all that far removed from being one of the top-rated prospects in the game. And given his value with the glove and on the bases, Volpe’s floor was fairly high.
About that…
As of this writing, Volpe has improved a bit offensively. More than a bit, actually, given the weird offensive context of 2025. He has a 103 wRC+, after posting an 83 as a rookie and an 86 last year, and he’s walking more than ever and showing more power. That’s great!
Unfortunately, it isn’t quite enough to offset the drop-off in his would-be strengths. This little screenshot from FanGraphs speaks volumes:
Volpe has been below-average on the bases (including a dreadful 9-for-16 in steam attempts), and been average-ish in the field. Put that together, and he’s projected to be less valuable by WAR than he was in 2024. Or, phrased differently, in 2024 he sacrificed power and patience for contact; in 2025, he seems to have put all of his energy into hitting, at the expense of the rest.
At the risk of piling on, Volpe’s bat hasn’t exactly been consistent, either. In fact, he’s been on a steady decline:
The underlying numbers suggest that this is due to a change in approach, batted ball shenanigans, or some combination of both. To wit, take a look at his batted ball data:
Volpe is hitting everything into the ground, and he isn’t the sort of burner that gets the most out of that sort of contact. The exit velocity has remained steady enough, but the angle is simple not working.
It seems as though all of this is weighing on Volpe, as well. Over the weekend, his bat flew out of his hands and down the third-base line in back to back at-bats, as he tried to kill the ball. He’s leading the league in errors. He made two questionable, at best, plays in the field yesterday. And his body language is downright dour.
The simplest solution is to give Volpe a few days off. He has played in 83 of 84 games, and it has been extremely hot and humid of late. I know he’s young and durable - but it’s not as though he’s performing at an irreplaceable level. We’ve seen him wear down as the season drags on before, too. Easing off the throttle leading into the All-Star break may just pay dividends.
I know that Peraza hasn’t hit, and the Yankees need all the offense they can get. Again, though, Volpe isn’t hitting right now. And he’s not playing defense at his normal level, or adding anything on the bases. Two or three games off in a row might cost nothing now but help the team down the stretch.