Anthony Volpe’s long-awaited return to the Yankees lineup did not go according to plan Wednesday afternoon in Baltimore, and the reaction afterward showed just how much pressure now surrounds the former top prospect.
The Yankees dropped a 7-0 decision to the Orioles in Volpe’s first regular-season MLB appearance of 2026, and the shortstop struggled on both sides of the ball. Volpe finished 0-for-3 with a strikeout and added a costly defensive mistake late in the game when he misplayed a routine ground ball hit directly at him.
It was the kind of ugly afternoon that immediately reignited questions about Volpe’s role and future with the organization. Yankees captain Aaron Judge addressed that reality after the loss and made it clear his message to Volpe was simple: ignore the chaos and focus on playing baseball.
Aaron Judge tells Volpe to ignore the pressure
“Just take care of business,” Judge said. “There’s been a lot of questions, a lot of stuff going on with that, circling with the media, but the biggest thing is to block out the noise. There’s going to be a lot of noise with it.”
That “noise” has only intensified because Volpe’s return to the majors came under difficult circumstances. The Yankees recalled him from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after infielder Jose Caballero suffered a fractured right middle finger and landed on the injured list. Yankees manager Aaron Boone has already indicated Caballero is expected to regain the starting job once healthy, leaving Volpe in an uncertain spot once again.
The situation marks a sharp turn from where Volpe once stood inside the organization. Not long ago, he was viewed as one of the Yankees’ foundational young players and a long-term answer at shortstop. But injuries and inconsistent play have dramatically shifted the picture.
Volpe’s Yankees future suddenly looks uncertain
Volpe had not appeared in a major league game since undergoing surgery on his left shoulder last fall to repair a torn labrum. During his absence, Caballero seized the opportunity and eventually overtook Volpe on the depth chart. Now, every appearance from Volpe carries added scrutiny as he tries to prove he still belongs in the Yankees’ future plans.
Wednesday’s performance did little to quiet concerns. The defensive error only added to frustrations surrounding a player who once appeared untouchable inside the organization. Instead of returning with momentum, Volpe now faces another uphill climb to regain trust and consistency at the major league level.
Yankees hope Subway Series helps Volpe reset
Judge, however, made it clear that the organization’s captain still believes in him.
“Just go out there and play your game,” Judge said. “He’s a special part of this organization, a special player…so just block out the noise and just go do your job.”
The Yankees, now 27-17, get a day off Thursday before opening a three-game Subway Series against the struggling Mets on Friday night. For Volpe, the matchup could provide an immediate chance to settle in and quieten at least some of the growing questions surrounding his career trajectory in New York.
