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Yankees Turn Shortstop Job Into Day-to-Day Decision

Aaron Boone says both Anthony Volpe and José Caballero have earned playing time, signaling a shift to matchup-driven starts.

Overview

  • Boone said Friday that both Volpe and Caballero "have earned the right to play" and that he will decide the shortstop start on a day-to-day basis.
  • Volpe was optioned to Triple-A after offseason shoulder rehab and has returned to the big league roster, hitting .257 in 11 games with nine hits and one home run in that stretch.
  • Caballero started at shortstop in the May 30 win over Oakland, went 2-for-4, and his ability to play almost every position gives the Yankees a way to keep both players in the lineup.
  • Manager Boone is using handedness and pitching matchups to shape lineups, which produced Volpe starting all three games in Kansas City and then taking a bench day in Sacramento.
  • The change reflects a broader Yankees emphasis on immediate results and accountability and it leaves Volpe’s long-term hold on the everyday shortstop role dependent on sustaining recent performance.