This Yankees Infielder is Giving Off Derek Jeter Vibes
The comparison was unfair from the start. An Italian-Filipino kid from New Jersey was hyped to be the next great shortstop of the New York Yankees. Anthony Volpe was doomed from the start to the land of great expectations. In this third season now Volpe has not come close to being Derek Jeter.
However, in the last two games, first against Kansas City and then the rival Boston Red Sox, something interesting happened. In two close-scoring games where runs were rare, Volpe brought back the nostalgia when he went into the hole and jumped and threw the ball across the field to nip a runner. It was very similar to the trademark move Jeter made famous. The difference was that Anthony would throw the ball across his whole body in a high arc with a velocity that he normally does not achieve.
They were magnificent plays. However, other subtle signs allow one to recall, such as when Volpe will go for a double play running to the second base bag unassisted, and throwing an arrow to first. The speed at which he covers the bases when he hits to the right field gap resonated with fans who recall the happy late 90s. In addition, you have the twenty-home run power that compares equally with the Jeter seasons.
Anthony Volpe was given the golden ticket. He has not justified it fully. However, the signs as of late have given pause. He is hitting .248, which is twenty points above his career average. His WAR and sixty hits place him second behind only Aaron Judge. He is third on the team with 38 RBIs. He leads the Yankees with 20 doubles. Volpe has hit eight balls over the fence already.
The numbers imply improvement on all fronts, but do they mean he is approaching expectations? He is producing more for sure. However, there is a lot more open field to cover before he can be in that conversation. At 24, Volpe is giving off subtle signs that the comparison may not be that far-fetched. How many can say they have won a Gold Glove Award and hit a World Series grand slam home run in their first two seasons? This is something even Derek Jeter did not accomplish.
