The New York Yankees face uncertainty regarding Anthony Volpe’s role once he recovers from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his non-throwing shoulder, likely sidelining him beyond Opening Day. The shortstop’s return timing remains unclear, intensifying questions about his future as a starter amid the team’s evolving roster.
Performance Struggles Place Volpe’s Starting Spot in Question
Since his debut in 2023, Volpe has produced a .222 batting average with 382 hits, 52 home runs, 192 RBIs, and 217 runs scored, including one Gold Glove, according to StatMuse. Despite these milestones, his recent struggles have increased pressure on him to prove his value as the 2026 MLB season approaches, making it a critical year for his career in the Bronx.
Debate Over Volpe’s Starting Role Sparks Differing Opinions
Yankees manager Aaron Boone faces a decision on whether to reinstate Volpe immediately after recovery. WFAN’s Tommy Lugauer argues that Volpe should not be granted an automatic return to the starting lineup. Instead, he believes a deserving competitor should earn the role to motivate Volpe and address fan concerns.
I don’t believe Anthony Volpe should be handed back the starting job once he’s healthy,
Lugauer said on Feb. 19 on WFAN.
José Caballero should be the starting shortstop once Volpe gets back. Allow Volpe to earn the starting shortstop gig back, because there’s this perception that he is the golden boy, that he gets these things handed to him, that he has a longer leash than others.
Yankee fans are going to meet him with boos if he struggles early. You’re not putting Anthony Volpe in a good position based off last year, which was a nightmare. If you just hand him the starting shortstop gig back, let him climb back up the mountain. It’s best for him.
Challenges of Prioritizing Volpe Over Caballero
Lugauer’s perspective includes the risk of disregarding José Caballero, who has the potential to excel if given the starting shortstop opportunity. Starting Volpe immediately could sideline Caballero despite his strong performance, possibly causing damage to Volpe’s confidence if he falters amid fan scrutiny.
If Caballero is playing well and Volpe is given the job and they sit Caballero and Volpe struggles, he’s going to hear it from the fans, and that does him zero favors,
Lugauer added.
The numbers, year by year, have gone down for Volpe. The approach at the plate is bad. The defense has been awful. The batting average is abysmal, and I wonder where he’s at mentally, considering last year when he heard a lot of boos.
Latest Updates on Volpe’s Recovery Process
As spring training games approach, Yankees reporter Meredith Marakovits provided new information about Volpe’s rehab progress, sharing that the surgery revealed a more severe labrum tear than initially expected. The procedure involved six sutures, requiring a cautious recovery timeline before Volpe can resume full activity.
He told me that the tear in his labrum was perhaps a little bit worse than they thought once they actually got in there and started doing the surgery, and they put about six sutures in it,
Marakovits said on Feb. 19 during an appearance on MLB Network.
He said he woke up and was just excited that it was fixed and he can start the rehab process.
Now he’s started his hitting program the other day, so he is likely going to start the season on the IL, and it’ll take him some time to make sure he gets full strength back in that, goes through that hitting program, and goes through the throwing at shortstop.
Implications for the Yankees’ 2026 Season
The trajectory of Anthony Volpe’s recovery and subsequent performance could be decisive for the Yankees’ infield stability and offensive output. If Volpe successfully earns back his starting job, it may restore confidence in his potential as a core player. Conversely, continued struggles could lead to a more permanent role for José Caballero and further shifts in the team’s lineup. The situation adds pressure on manager Aaron Boone to balance player development with fan expectations in this pivotal season.
"I don't believe Anthony Volpe should be handed the SS gig back – he should have to earn it."@tommylugauer going hard on the Yankees' SS! pic.twitter.com/pLy3cfxeVd
— WFAN Sports Radio (@WFAN660) February 19, 2026
Anthony Volpe's return timeline, the 2026 outlook for Jasson Domínguez and more!@M_Marakovits has the latest from Yankees camp on #MLBNHotStove 📺 pic.twitter.com/6qx9UNdXPO
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) February 19, 2026
