After winning the shortstop gig in spring training, New York Yankees top prospect Anthony Volpe made his major league debut on Thursday, on Opening Day.
He is the youngest shortstop to appear in a game for the Yanks since Derek Jeter did it as a 20-year-old kid in 1995.
The Yankees defeated the San Francisco Giants, 5-0, behind a masterful six-inning performance from ace Gerrit Cole and a home run by Aaron Judge.
Volpe, in the meantime, contributed a walk and a stolen base from the ninth hole in the lineup.
He didn’t have any hits, but those will come in time.
He also made a couple of great defensive plays.
The most important takeaway is that his team won, he contributed, and he had a whole lot of fun in the process.
Anthony Volpe: “It’s probably the most fun day of my entire life.”
—Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) March 30, 2023
What’s baseball without some fun?
It might seem minor, but reading that the kid just had the most fun day of his life is actually refreshing.
Lots of young players would feel the pressure of being the shortstop of the Yankees.
Not Volpe, though.
He has a special mindset, as he lets the work he put in for months speak for him.
That should be the case for most young players: prepare, work out, and study off the field, then play loose and relaxed when it counts.
Trusting his talent is what has gotten Volpe this far.
He hit 48 home runs and stole 83 bases in the last two minor league seasons, with excellent averages, on-base numbers and slugging percentages.
He knows he is good: he just has to show it.
Little by little, he will get opportunities to show his worth.
He appears to be an asset for the Yanks early on.
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