NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Yankees will begin training Anthony Volpe at second base now that José Caballero has returned from his broken middle finger injury.
Caballero came back from the injured list and took the field at shortstop during Friday’s series opener against the AL-leading Tampa Bay team after completing the required 10-day absence. Volpe sat on the bench for the game.
“As I’ve told them each, it’s not going to be the perfect scenario every single day. You may like or not like a decision on a given day, but the end of the day we’re all working for the same thing,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “We want to win big, and we want win big for the Yankees. And then it’s my job to try and put you in the best position to be successful and there’ll be some days where that makes sense and is fair or not fair.”
Caballero sustained his injury when he dove back toward first base during a pickoff play by Abner Uribe in the ninth inning of a Milwaukee game on May 10, despite using a sliding mitt for protection. The 29-year-old player, who joined the Yankees from Tampa Bay on July 31 last year, had appeared in 39 of the team’s initial 41 games at shortstop, posting a .249 batting average with four home runs, 13 RBIs and 13 stolen bases for a .720 OPS.
Volpe, who held the starting shortstop role from 2021-23, had been sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after recovering from shoulder surgery performed on Oct. 14, but was called back up when Caballero suffered his injury.
“Both guys are going to play. Cabby’s versatility comes into play now again with Anthony here,” Boone said. “These things have a way of working themselves out. It’s a good situation to be in because we have two players that we feel like can play vital roles in us winning games.”
During Caballero’s time on the injured list, Volpe made eight starts at shortstop and posted a .217 batting average with three RBIs, two stolen bases and seven walks for a .707 OPS.
“Like what I’ve seen. I feel like he’s had a good week of at-bats,” Boone said. “I feel he’s played well in the field. Again, it’s a week, but he’s a really talented player that we have high expectations for.”
Volpe’s experience at second base in professional baseball consists of just one game each at Class A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley in 2021, the same year he also played three games at third base for Tampa.
“Second base I’m not too worried about,” Boone said. “I probably wouldn’t put him over at third up here. I’d want him to go do that a little bit.”
Volpe also got second base experience during five spring training games in 2023.
“He may still end up being all at shortstop. On the days he’s playing shortstop, I may move Cabby around,” Boone said. “But I want him to at least get some work over there and see that side of the field, too.”
Caballero brings experience at second base, third base and the outfield as well.
The Yankees created roster space by sending top prospect Spencer Jones down to Scranton. Jones made his debut on May 8 and managed a .167 batting average with no extra-base hits and two RBIs across 27 plate appearances in 10 games. His call-up came after Jasson Domínguez injured his left shoulder crashing into Yankee Stadium’s outfield wall on May 7.
“It was a good experience for Spencer even though he didn’t get a lot of results,” Boone said. “I actually feel like he held his own pretty well.”
Domínguez is currently taking batting practice off a tee and may return to game action by late next week or early June.
Giancarlo Stanton, who has been out since April 24 with a strained right calf, will undergo evaluation next week and might receive clearance to begin running.
Trent Grisham returned to the starting lineup in the leadoff spot and center field after sitting out one game. He had exited Wednesday’s contest due to knee discomfort, but tests revealed no structural problems.
The Yankees also brought back ace right-hander Gerrit Cole from the 15-day injured list following his recovery from elbow ligament replacement surgery. He was scheduled to start Friday in his first meaningful big league game since the 2024 World Series.
Right-hander Yovanny Cruz was sent to the RailRiders on Thursday night after making his first two major league appearances.
