Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Defends Struggling Shortstop Anthony Volpe Amid AL Errors Lead

The New York Yankees suffered a 4-1 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, widening the Blue Jays' lead in the AL East to four games, the largest deficit the Yankees have faced this season. Central to the defeat was shortstop Anthony Volpe, who committed his 12th error of the season, the most in the American League, contributing to the Blue Jays' four-run inning. Despite Volpe's defensive struggles and a disappointing offensive performance with a .214 batting average, Yankees manager Aaron Boone defended him, calling Volpe a "top shortstop" and attributing errors to missing a few key plays rather than a complete decline. Boone's defense of Volpe has frustrated many Yankees fans, who feel his continuous support overlooks the player's ongoing slump, both defensively and offensively. Advanced defensive metrics confirm Volpe's fall from a Gold Glove-level defender in 2023 to a player in a significant slump in 2025, with a drastic drop in Outs Above Average and Defensive Runs Saved. The Yankees are now looking to regroup and improve consistency as they aim to close the gap in the division standings in the remaining season.