SEATTLE — After beginning 139 straight video games, Anthony Volpe is getting his second break day within the final eight video games on Tuesday.
The Yankees’ streaky shortstop will likely be on the bench to start out Tuesday’s sequence opener in opposition to the Mariners at T-Cell Park, supervisor Aaron Boone stated on his weekly podcast with Jomboy Media, with Oswaldo Cabrera getting the beginning in opposition to right-hander Bryan Woo.
Woo is particularly powerful on right-handed hitters — holding them to a .179 common and .491 OPS in 37 profession begins — so Boone defined the choice as desirous to get extra left-handed hitters like Cabrera within the lineup.
However Volpe has additionally been scuffling of late on the plate, the newest swing in an up-and-down season offensively — although his protection at a crucial place has continued to be sturdy, and he has performed the second-most innings of any participant within the majors, trailing solely Braves first baseman Matt Olson.
The 23-year-old Volpe entered Tuesday 4-for-37 with one stroll and 12 strikeouts over his final 11 video games, which left him batting .246 with a .664 OPS by 149 video games this yr (he has appeared in all however one of many Yankees’ video games).
Volpe’s season on the plate has largely been feast or famine, alternating between cold and warm stretches as he continues his improvement on the huge league stage.
After posting a 20/20 rookie season — wherein his .666 OPS was the sixth-lowest amongst certified hitters — he made offseason changes to his swing to get again to the all-fields hitter he was within the minors.
That paid instant dividends, although it has not been a cure-all over the course of an extended season.
“As I’ve talked about loads this yr with Anthony, he’s not a completed product offensively,” Boone stated final week. “That stated, having the braveness and the wherewithal to make what he felt like have been some crucial changes this winter however advanced and altered his method and swing just a little bit, I believe are going to be issues that serve him effectively transferring ahead. I believe they’ve at instances this yr, however it’s additionally been an adjustment.
“So he’s had his ups and downs nonetheless. However I believe when the mud settles, I do assume he’ll be a man that does an excellent job of controlling the zone, does stroll some and hopefully with that, we see that on-base [percentage] get to a extremely engaging place.”
