Yankees' headline-grabbing roster move reminds Guardians of painful 2024 ALCS

The 2024 American League Championship Series was arguably Anthony Volpe at his best. 

After some middling success in the regular season, the former top prospect went 6-for-17 (.353) in the Yankees’ series win over the Guardians with a double, steal and four walks. While he didn’t get as much attention as guys like Giancarlo Santon and Juan Soto, Volpe was a steady contributor and became the eighth Yankee to reach base in his first nine postseason games. 

But now it seems like that series could end up being the high water mark of his time with the Yankees, as the team announced on Sunday that Volpe had been reinstated from the 10-day injured list and optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. 

Volpe has yet to play for the Yankees this year due to offseason shoulder surgery; he’d previously been on a minor league rehab assignment.

Anthony Volpe’s fall from grace continues after minor league demotion 

That series against the Guardians is a bit of an anatomy across Volpe’s career, as he has a .222/.283/.379 slashline across 472 career games, which is good for an OPS+ of just 82. 

It wasn’t that long ago that he was the Yankees’ top prospect who was billed as the team’s future. While he struggled a bit at the plate in his rookie season, he finished sixth in Rookie of the Year voting and won the American League Gold Glove at shortstop. His future seemed as bright as any in baseball. 

Then things changed. 

He had an up-and-down regular season in 2024 before his strong postseason, but he failed to build on that last year. And, in the time since, Jose Caballero has taken over as the Yankees’ shortstop (7 Defensive Runs Saved) and old friend Amed Rosario has been great in a utility role. 

There just isn’t enough room in the inn for Volpe, who hit .250 in 13 games on his rehab assignment. 

Volpe’s injury first popped up last May when he heard a “pop” while diving for a ball. While he ended up playing through the injury (and underwent two cortisone shots), it likely contributed to his subpar season at the plate and in the field. 

Not only was Volpe’s demotion smart from a baseball perspective, but it also helps negate how much of an off the field distraction he could become. 

Volpe has become a divisive figure in the Yankees ecosystem, so every play that he made (or didn’t make) would become a flashpoint among the fanbase. 

While that will still happen some while he’s in the minors, there’ll be less eyeballs on him. 

Volpe’s performance against the Guardians in the ALCS always felt a bit unsustainable, and his demotion shows just how much of a flash in the pan it was. 

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