TAMPA, Fla. — Mixed in with Anthony Volpe looking like a modern-day Ozzie Smith on Friday night, the Yankees shortstop had another rough night at the plate while flashing some fantastic defense in a 1-0 win over the Rays.
Once again, Volpe’s not hitting for average. Now, he’s also striking out at a higher rate than ever before, and that’s saying something.
Yes, there have been occasional teases in the Yankees’ first 20 games that Volpe’s offseason adjustments will have a big payoff, but early-on big production with power has transformed into a lot of recent struggles.
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Volpe’s great play in the hole and sensational relay throw to third base were very important to Friday’s win, but his average dipped below .200 with an 0-for-4 night at the plate that included three more strikeouts.
Volpe has four homers and 15 RBI, but he’s hitting .197. In his last 11 games he’s 3-for-34 with 15 Ks.
What’s wrong this time?
It’s no mystery.
“I’m just missing pitches,” Volpe said.
He’s misses pitches that he should be hitting.
It’s good that he’s cut down on his chasing by not swinging at many pitches off the plate, but it’s troubling that mistake pitches are turning into a lot of outs with weak or no contact.
In Friday’s game, Volpe had seven swings-and-misses and a foul tip that was caught in four at-bats.
In the second inning, Rays righty Drew Rasmussen struck him out on three pitches that should have been crushed, first a sinker that Volpe took and then two fastballs that resulted in a swing and miss.
Next time up, same thing. Facing Rasmussen again, Volpe got three fastballs over the plate, he swung at all of them, and the best he could do was foul tip the last into the catcher’s glove.
With lefty Garrett Cleavinger pitching in the sixth, Volpe took a called strike, laid off a sinker that just missed and then hit a 95.5-mph groundball right at shortstop Taylor Walls, who fielded it with ease and threw to first for the out.
Volpe had a competitive, seven-pitch at-bat against Hunter Bigge in the ninth after he swung and missed at the first two offerings, fastballs that were strikes. But after a foul on a head-high fastball, ball one on an outside slider, another foul on a 100-mph heater and ball two, the Rays reliever won the battle.
Bigge probably wanted his 2-2 slider down, but he got away with it being letters high when Volpe swung and missed again.
Always even keel, Volpe summed up his struggles the way he usually does.
“Keep working,” he said.
It’s still very early, but Volpe has struck out 24 times in 83 plate appearances. That translates to a 28.9 strikeout rate that is higher than his alarming 2023 stats, 167 Ks in 601 times up for a 27.8 rate. He improved to 22.6 last season before climbing again this year.
There are positives this season.
His walk rate is a career-best 12 percent, up from 6.1 last season and 8.7 in 2023.
His .724 OPS is well above what it was the last two years, .666 in 2023 and .657 in ’24.
Best of all, he’s on pace for 32 homers and 122 RBI. The Yankees sure would take that kind of production.
Volpe has really scuffled lately though, and he knows that has to change.
“I keep saying it to myself,” Volpe said. “When I get a damage pitch, I feel like I’ve got to do damage.”
Volpe by the numbers
2023 …… .209 avg … .27.8 K rate …. 8.7 BB rate
2024 …… .243 avg … .22.6 K rate ….. 6.0 BB rate
x-2025 … .197 avg …. 28.9 K rate … 12.0 BB rate
x-Through April 18.
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Randy Miller may be reached at [email protected].
