Do the Yankees Need a 2023 Gold Glover Even with His Defensive Struggles?
There ought to be a college course for major leaguers whose playing time is justified by front offices using selective statistics to fit predetermined narratives. It could be called Volpe 101. Anthony Volpe and his 2023 Gold Glove Award continue to be cited as evidence that he remains one of baseball's elite defensive shortstops. That argument has become increasingly difficult to support. Monday's game against the Chicago White Sox served as a case study for why the Yankees should begin looking beyond a defense-first shortstop whose defense is no longer consistently elite.
The numbers themselves tell a different story that clashes with Yankee metrics. Among primary major league shortstops, the 25-year-old is tied for 13th in defensive metrics, and he no longer ranks among the top ten in Outs Above Average. More telling, he may not even be the best defensive shortstop in the Yankees organization. Jose Caballero earned that honor, believing he could be beyond a role player, performing at a higher level and appearing to have won the position. He was listed higher on the OAA list of shortstops while the New Jersey kid rehabilitated his shoulder injury. At the same time, top prospect George Lombard Jr. appears poised to challenge for the position when he is expected to reach the majors in August.
Monday's game featured two plays that illustrated the growing concerns surrounding his defense. The first came on what should have been a routine pop fly into shallow left-center field. The New York native squeezed, and the ball popped out of his glove, turning an easy out into a costly error. It wasn't simply one mistake; it was another example of a defender whose reputation appears to be outpacing his current performance. This miscue also forced manager Aaron Boone to summon closer David Bednar in a situation that likely would never have become stressful had the play been completed.
Ironically, an otherwise successful defensive sequence highlighted another concern: Volpe's arm strength. On a cutoff relay later in the game, his throw from third base lacked both velocity and carry, bouncing twice before reaching the catcher. In situations where fractions of a second determine whether a runner is safe or out, those weak throws can prove costly. Even on routine ground balls, the shortstop has struggled to generate enough carry when throwing from deep in the hole, raising legitimate questions about whether he still possesses the arm strength necessary to play championship-caliber shortstop every day.
The Yankees do not need a former Gold Glove recipient relying on past accomplishments as few as they are. They need a shortstop who consistently makes routine plays and executes the fundamentals. Defense is supposed to be Anthony's calling card, yet too often the Yankees have been left with missed opportunities, misplayed balls, or throws that fail to finish the job. One game does not define a season, but performances like Monday's reinforce a growing reality. This one accomplishment on Volpe’s résumé reflects what he accomplished in 2023, not necessarily the defender he is today.
