Anthony Volpe had an unusual first year. As a first-round pick out of New Jersey, he emerged as the Yankees’ choice at shortstop in the most competitive free agent class in history. The hype train only accelerated once he broke camp in 2023 as the team’s starting shortstop, defeating fellow prospect Oswald Peraza. He struggled—he slashed.209/.383/.666 yielded an OPS+ of 81. However, he was also successful, hitting 21 home runs and stealing 24 bases while giving speed to a Yankees lineup that urgently needed it.
The defensive side of his rookie year was as tough to pinpoint. He won the Gold Glove in his debut year, which was no small accomplishment. His professional handling of the role was a welcome change following years of Gleyber Torres and IKF at short. However, the defensive numbers were less favorable of his performance. Volpe’s range and arm were rated mediocre by Statcast, with a Fielding Run Value of +1. He threw at an average speed of 81.8 mph, ranking 28th among shortstops. He only had one out(s) above average, which indicates a fielder’s range.
If you prefer Ultimate Zone Rating, which is a measure of how many runs a fielder saves based on factors such as arm, range, double-play rate, and errors, Volpe had a 2.9 UZR, which was slightly better than average.
Volpe’s arm also appeared suspicious at times. There wasn’t a single game that went by without someone mentioning how his arm profiled better at second base. That was on top of the occasional and typical rookie mistakes that come with playing a premium defensive position, particularly shortstop for the New York Yankees.
This year, however, Volpe has managed to entirely reverse the trend. He already has a +4 Fielding Run Value this season, trailing only Bobby Witt, Jr. and Nick Ahmed. Volpe’s value has come solely from his range, as he has 5 OAA. Right now, only a month into the season, he also has a 4 DRS—very impressive. You don’t have to be a defensive metric acolyte to recognize that Volpe’s 2024 metrics, when compared to the same 2023 metrics, illustrate his growth at short.
Those numbers are impressive compared to last year’s performance, and also when compared to his peers, with Statcast putting his range in the 98th percentile. The eye test confirms that he looks not only more comfortable in the field, but has been able to consistently away hits that would’ve snuck through the hole in previous years.
Volpe ranges from the shortstop side of the bag to deep in the right field hole, spins, and throws a strike from the opposite side of the field he’s used to, nailing the runner just as he would have been safe.
Similar to the first clip, Volpe ranges to his left, fields the ball cleanly in the hole, and delivers a strike to first. In this clip, he shows off his arm more, making an off-balance throw from a longer distance. This tape also demonstrates the importance of Volpe’s defense—this is a game-ending play with Clay Holmes, a sinker-heavy pitcher who induces a lot of groundballs to seal the game. As previously mentioned, the Yankees bullpen frequently pitches to contact. Volpe’s presence at shortstop is critical in the late innings.
Finally, Volpe’s poise is on full display here. A younger, less composed Volpe (or shortstop, for that matter) could have kicked the ball or airmailed the throw. Instead, it’s another way out at first.
This is not to claim Volpe is a finished product on defense. Our Peter Brody has stated that he will occasionally encounter issues with the transfer. Hopefully, we may look back on this propensity as a learning experience rather than a fatal weakness.
Volpe’s offensive tweaks in 2023 sparked a lot of discussion. His promotion as leadoff hitter drew even more attention. However, we should not lose sight of his defensive progress. Superlative defense provides Volpe with another path to success, and he’s made some significant strides on that side of the ball so far in 2024.
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