BRONX, NY – The New York Yankees finally caught a break.
Franchise shortstop Anthony Volpe returned to the Yankees lineup for the club’s Monday night matchup against the San Diego Padres at Yankee Stadium – just two days after an injury scare surrounding his left shoulder. Ahead of Monday’s game, Yankee manager Aaron Boone relayed a sense of relief regarding the infielder’s status.
“He felt good about [playing tonight],” said Boone. “I talked to him on the way home last night, and he said he could do everything. I feel like we dodged something there.”
Volpe was sidelined for Sunday’s rubber match against the Tampa Bay Rays after a diving effort from the evening prior left him wincing in pain on the shallow outfield grass. The 24-year-old remained in the game, but revealed to reporters after the contest that he heard a worrying pop in his shoulder.
While Volpe took Sunday off to nurse the soreness, the Yankees received some “good news” when the results of the X-rays and an MRI all came back clean. Boone noted on Monday that the club will continue to monitor Volpe’s shoulder, though he’s not necessarily anticipating an ongoing issue.
“I’m sure we’ll monitor it as we navigate through it, but he’s full strength and I’m not expecting it to be an issue,” he said.
Volpe’s health is paramount to a Yankee infield that’s already stretched paper-thin. Just days ago, second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. landed on the injured list with a right oblique strain, an injury that could keep him out of the middle infield for four to six weeks.
In the interim, New York called up 24-year-old prospect Jorbit Vivas, who knocked a two-run single on Sunday for his first Major League hit. The Yankees will also continue to rely on their young infielders, Oswaldo Cabrera and Oswald Peraza, to patrol second and third base – the latter of whom is slated to start at the hot corner in the opening matchup against the Padres.
Meanwhile, DJ LeMahieu is inching closer to a return after resuming his rehab assignment. Boone remarked Monday that second base is now “more in play” for the veteran infielder upon his return.
On the year, Volpe is hitting .233 with a .768 OPS (118 OPS+) and five homers. After going through a devastating stretch at the plate, Volpe has turned it up over the last week. The shortstop boasts a .346 average with a 1.029 OPS through his last seven games.
