The New York Yankees are facing an uncertain start to the 2026 season, but general manager Brian Cashman made one thing clear—Anthony Volpe’s job as the team’s starting shortstop remains secure once he’s healthy.
Speaking to reporters this week, Cashman said he still believes in Volpe despite a difficult 2025 season and recent shoulder surgery. “I believe in the player still,” Cashman told ESPN. “He’s 24 years old. I don’t think the New York stage is too big for him. It’s just still finding his way.”
Volpe underwent arthroscopic surgery to repair a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, a procedure performed by team physician Dr. Chris Ahmad. The injury, which the Yankees initially downplayed during the season, turned out to be more serious than expected.
Cashman’s Belief in Volpe Remains Strong
For most of the year, the Yankees didn’t believe the injury was impacting Volpe’s play. But after seeing the “more severe” surgical cleanup, Cashman now admits the shortstop’s shoulder likely affected both his hitting and defense.
“I personally think now, yes, it was affecting him,” Cashman said to The Athletic. “Because ultimately, he had to have surgery. None of that was really on the table in-season.”
Volpe’s numbers were underwhelming in 2025. In 153 games, he hit .212 with a .663 OPS, while his defensive metrics declined sharply. He also committed 19 errors—tied for the third most among shortstops—after winning a Gold Glove in 2023. Over his three major league seasons, Volpe has hit just .222 with a .283 on-base percentage, ranking near the bottom among regular position players.
Still, Cashman and manager Aaron Boone see a young player who can grow once he’s healthy. Boone said Volpe won’t swing a bat for four months or dive on his shoulder for six months, but could be ready “sometime in April, maybe May.”
“He understands that to become that front-line shortstop, his hitting has got to improve,” Boone said. “We understand that too. But he’s still very young.”
Temporary Fixes Until Volpe Returns
With Volpe sidelined through at least Opening Day, the Yankees will turn to their internal depth. José Caballero and Oswaldo Cabrera are the frontrunners to fill in at shortstop.
Caballero, acquired from the Rays, finished with a 97 wRC+ and 49 stolen bases in 2025—a noticeable upgrade in offensive production and speed. He also ranked among the top 10 shortstops in outs above average, giving the Yankees confidence that he can hold the position early on.
“Somebody will be playing shortstop, not [Volpe] on Opening Day,” Cashman admitted. “That’s not a good thing for us either. I’m looking forward to getting a fixed Anthony Volpe back so he can help us win games.”
The Yankees open the 2026 season on March 25 against the Giants in San Francisco. The front office expects Volpe to begin a rehab assignment around that time, with hopes of rejoining the big-league roster by late April.
Cashman’s confidence in Volpe—despite his struggles and injury setbacks—suggests the organization still views him as a cornerstone for the future. “We believe in the player,” Cashman reiterated. “He’s still learning, but I think he’ll get there.”
If that belief proves justified, the Yankees could finally stabilize a position that’s been in flux since Derek Jeter’s retirement.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Yankees Plan to Stick With Shortstop Despite Surgery, Cashman Says appeared first on Heavy Sports.