Aaron Boone does not believe that Anthony Volpe’s recent struggles are related to his move to the leadoff spot in the batting order. Volpe, a second-year shortstop for the Yankees, had been performing well at the beginning of the season but has hit a rough patch since being placed at the top of the lineup. Despite his recent slump, Boone remains confident in Volpe’s abilities as a major league hitter and believes he is close to breaking out of the slump.
Since taking over the leadoff role on April 10, Volpe has struggled at the plate, hitting .209 with a .299 on-base percentage and a .291 slugging percentage. Despite these numbers, Boone believes that Volpe’s struggles are simply part of the ebbs and flows of the baseball season, especially for young players. He remains convinced that Volpe is a better hitter than he was at this time last year and expects him to bounce back soon.
The decision to move Volpe to the leadoff spot was made due to Gleyber Torres’ struggles in that position and DJ LeMahieu’s absence due to a foot injury. Boone has chosen to stick with Volpe at the top of the lineup despite his recent struggles, citing his confidence in the young player’s ability to handle the pressure. While Boone acknowledges that Volpe has not been as hot as he was at the start of the season, he does not believe that his move to leadoff is the reason for his difficulties.
Volpe went 1-for-3 with a walk and a strikeout in Friday’s game, maintaining his position as the leadoff hitter. Boone believes that Volpe is still mixing in hits and is not far off from breaking out of his slump. As the Yankees continue to get players back from injuries, Boone may consider moving Volpe out of the leadoff spot, but for now, he is sticking with the young shortstop at the top of the lineup. Boone remains confident in Volpe’s abilities and is not concerned about his ability to handle the pressure of hitting leadoff.
Despite the recent struggles at the plate, Boone believes that Volpe has the talent and skills necessary to succeed as a major league hitter. He attributes Volpe’s recent struggles to the challenges of hitting in the league and the natural fluctuations that players experience throughout the season. Boone is optimistic that Volpe will soon break out of his slump and return to his early-season form. As the Yankees continue to evaluate their lineup options, Boone will continue to monitor Volpe’s performance and make adjustments as needed.
In conclusion, Anthony Volpe’s recent struggles at the plate have not been attributed to his move to the leadoff spot in the batting order, according to Yankees manager Aaron Boone. Despite his difficulties, Boone remains confident in Volpe’s abilities and believes that he is close to breaking out of his slump. As the team continues to get players back from injuries, Boone may consider moving Volpe out of the leadoff spot but for now, he is sticking with the young shortstop at the top of the lineup. Boone is optimistic that Volpe will soon return to form and contribute to the team’s success at the plate.
