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With José Caballero back in action and Anthony Volpe still part of the lineup, the Yankees are faced with the challenge of effectively utilizing both infield talents.
During Friday’s series opener against the Rays at Yankee Stadium, Caballero, fresh off the injured list after healing from a fractured middle finger, took his place at shortstop, while Volpe was left out of the starting lineup.
This season, Caballero’s defensive skills at shortstop have caught the Yankees’ attention. However, he committed an error on a ground ball from Chandler Simpson at the start of the eighth inning, a misstep that occurred with the Yankees holding a slim lead.
This mistake sparked a four-run surge by Tampa Bay, culminating in a 4-2 defeat for the Yankees.
“That’s a play he needs to make,” commented Yankees manager Aaron Boone.
Caballero noted it was a low liner that was a bit of a short hop, but agreed he should have come up with the ball.
Before the game, Boone declined to name either the regular starter at the spot — and added that Volpe would get work in at second base, a position he hasn’t played in a regular season game since a pair of minor league games in 2021.
“On days Anthony is not playing [shortstop], we’ll have him working a little at second base,” Boone said.
That work, Volpe said, has not begun.
“I’ll be ready to go,’’ Volpe said before Friday’s loss. “Whatever the team needs.”
There had been thought that Volpe could be optioned back to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre with Caballero in the lineup again.
Instead, the Yankees opted to send outfield prospect Spencer Jones back to SWB after he mostly struggled at the plate.
For now, Boone said of shortstop, “I’ll make the decision every day.”
The manager spoke to both Caballero and Volpe and acknowledged there will be unpopular decisions.
“Both guys are gonna play,’’ Boone said. “[Caballero’s] versatility comes into play again with Anthony here.”
The Yankees acquired Caballero from Tampa Bay last year because of his ability to play all over the field and wreak havoc on the bases.
When Caballero took over as the starting shortstop as Volpe recovered from offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, though, he hit and fielded better than even the Yankees believed he would.
Boone said Friday: “These things have a way of working themselves out. It’s a good situation to be in because they’re two players we feel can play vital roles in us winning games. … It’s not gonna be a perfect scenario every single day.”
Asked about his potential role, Volpe said, “I don’t write the lineup. I’m ready to go, I’ll put my work in.”
Volpe, in his return to the majors, has had some encouraging games at the plate and defensively — as well as on the bases — but he entered Friday hitless in his last eight plate appearances with three strikeouts and botched a double play ball at short in Thursday’s loss to Toronto.