Yankees Bench Anthony Volpe Amid Shoulder Injury, Postseason Playing Time Uncertain

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe has been benched for a second straight game following a cortisone shot in his left shoulder amid a prolonged slump, hitting just .206 with a .661 OPS and leading the AL in errors this season. The Yankees acquired utilityman Jose Caballero at the trade deadline, who has started over Volpe recently, signaling a potential shift in postseason plans to favor Caballero's steadier defense and base running over Volpe's power and raw athleticism. Manager Aaron Boone, while publicly supportive of Volpe's future, has prioritized reliability and trust as the playoffs approach, echoing a similar decision in 2021 when Kyle Higashioka was chosen over Gary Sánchez for critical games. Despite Volpe’s struggles, former Yankees like Derek Jeter have urged patience, recognizing that young players often face such challenges early in their careers. Meanwhile, other Yankees prospects such as Ben Rice and Trent Grisham have quietly provided vital contributions during the season. This combination of factors suggests that Volpe may continue to lose playing time through the end of the regular season and into the postseason.