The 2026 MLB season has brought many surprising developments recently. Continuing this trend, the Yankees made another shocking move on Sunday by optioning shortstop Anthony Volpe to the minors. Volpe was set to complete his rehab assignment that day, but instead of reintegrating him into the active roster, the team optioned him, surprising the fanbase.
“Following today’s game, the Yankees returned INF Anthony Volpe from his rehab assignment, reinstated him from the 10-day injured list, and optioned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre,” the Yankees announced in their official statement.
Volpe underwent a surgical procedure on his shoulder during the offseason and was expected to return to the roster in early May. Still, the Yanks will instead continue with Jose Caballero at SS.
Fans were quick to react to the Yankees’ official announcement about Volpe on X, with some commenting that it is probably the right move for the organization.
“Wow. I really didn’t think they had the balls to do it,” one fan commented.
“This is 10000% the right move, but it did Volpe a disservice. They knew he was hurt last year, yet they wanted to stick it to the fans by allowing him to play with a hurt shoulder to show us how good he is. Instead, we got bad defense and 1 good month out of him,” another fan commented.
“It’s flat out the right decision for right now. No reason to mess with this lineup at all. Maybe this could be good for Volpe. It’s a long season, someone will get injured, and he’ll be called up, so hopefully he’s ready,” yet another fan commented.
Some other fans tried to draw positives from the move, stating that it could be good for Volpe, as he can string together some good performances in triple-A, get his mojo back on either side of the game, and then maybe receive the call back up to the active roster.
“That’s a real reset moment for Volpe. Yankees clearly want him working through it somewhere quieter than the Bronx,” one fan commented.
“It’s not the end of the world for Volpe, knowing him, this will motivate him even more to get better. You can’t send a player down if they are playing lights out, and that’s what is happening right now! Things can change quickly, it’s the MLB!” another fan commented.
“How Volpe responds will be very telling about what kind of career he’ll have going forward because he has not been “the guy” since becoming a professional. The ability to overcome failure & adversity is a requirement for sustained success in MLB,” yet another fan commented.
Anthony Volpe Could Gain From His Move to the Minor Leagues
So far this season, Volpe has hit .275/.333/.350 in his minor-league rehab, with one home run and six RBIs. Although it may have been difficult for the Yankees to option one of their promising but inconsistent players, Volpe can benefit from his time in the minors and return stronger.
In 2024, he improved, posting a .243/.293/364 line with 12 homers, 60 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases. However, as the Yankees’ shortstop, he’s expected to be a star. In 2025, he recorded 19 homers, 72 RBIs, and 18 stolen bases, yet the team is sending him to Triple-A.
At just 25, many teams would want such an infielder. Instead, the Yankees are choosing to keep the speedy José Caballero, who has 12 stolen bases this season and is posting a solid .259/.308/.411 line. The Bronx Bombers are currently sitting atop the AL East division with a solid 23-11 record.
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