The Yankees Are Building Their Shortstop Future & Volpe Ain't In It

Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa will have a more significant focus on Volpe and him shitting the bed in today’s game, but for me, right now… I just want to talk about the Yankees future in the field.

Let’s stop pretending. Anthony Volpe isn’t just slumping—he’s on a full-blown downward spiral. This isn’t a “young player working out the kinks” situation anymore. This is what happens when you fast-track a marketable kid with a clean face, the right connections, and zero college experience just to sell a few extra jerseys on Opening Day. And now the Yankees are dealing with the consequences and they should be ashamed of themselves.

Volpe was handed the keys to shortstop like he was the prince of The Bronx. But the fairy tale is cracking. Sunday’s 4-1 loss to the Cubs wasn’t just another bad day—it was a highlight reel of why the Yankees may already be planning a future without him.  (time is 6:16)

At the plate? Another 0-for-3. His hitless streak now has him 9-for-70 since June 23. Horrible. His batting average has dipped to an anemic .214. Mario Mendoza called me today and asked that I stop connecting his name with Volpe’s. Why? BECAUSE IT’S THAT EMBARRASSING! 

Volpe’s OPS? Try .671. Not exactly what you want from your starting shortstop. But hey, at least he’s known for his glove, right? Wrong. 

Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong.

Volpe’s defense was just as messy. In the seventh, with two outs and a runner on second, he fielded a grounder—then air-mailed the throw wide to first. That mistake brought in the Cubs’ fourth run. A little later, he jogged after a routine grounder and lobbed one to second base like it was a Sunday picnic. Dansby Swanson beat the throw, and Volpe just stared into the abyss.

But don’t worry, Aaron Boone had the usual word salad ready: “If the throw is on line, he’s out.”

Gee, thanks, dickhead. Maybe next time explain gravity while you’re at it. Boone constantly defending Volpe like he’s a Little Leaguer learning the ropes isn’t just annoying—it’s insulting to fans who know better.

Meanwhile, the Yankees might already be turning the page.

While Volpe was busy booting plays in The Bronx, George Lombard Jr. was making noise at the Futures Game. The 18-year-old shortstop smoked a double, drew a walk, and looked smooth as silk in the field. Scouts took notice. MLB Pipeline now ranks Lombard as the No. 35 prospect in baseball, the No. 10 shortstop, and—wait for it—the top prospect in the Yankees system. He’s the only Yankee in MLB’s top 100.

Translation: He’s coming. And fast.

Oh, and if you thought Lombard was the only threat to Volpe’s reign, think again. With their first pick in the 2025 MLB Draft (39th overall), the Yankees selected Dax Kilby, a shortstop from Newnan High School in Georgia. Kilby is a left-handed hitter with excellent contact skills, patience at the plate, and—dare we say it—a real plan.

Ranked No. 62 by MLB.com and 75 by Baseball America, Kilby isn’t just some “project.” He’s another signpost pointing to a future that no longer includes Volpe as the guy. Here’s the problem with Kilby and the Yankees analytics department though. The Yankees already tried the “drafting the SS out of High School” route with Volpe and it’s a disaster. Why not let the guy spend a few years in the minor leagues rather than 2 minutes.  At any rate, it’s clear the Yankees are thinking future and Volpe ain’t in it.

And so where does that leave Anthony Volpe?

Right now, somewhere between everyday starter and the Yankees’ version of IKF—just a placeholder until the real talent arrives. That may sound harsh, but look at the writing on the wall. For the first time in a long time, the Yankees aren’t putting their head in the sand. 

They’re preparing for the future. Lombard. Kilby. A shortstop shake-up is coming. Hell, is I had to pick, I’d grab a dude named Dean Ferrara from Fairfield. Newly graduated with college experience, unlike Volpe. He not only knows how to hit but can actually play defense and is the dark horse of this entire MLB Draft. 

Volpe was a rushed product. Great smile. Great story. Not ready.

And now the Yankees—finally—seem to realize it.