Anthony Volpe on Saturday became the primary Yankee to steal three bases in a single game since Ichiro Suzuki did so on Sept. 19, 2012 — when Volpe was 11 years old.
The young Yankees shortstop showed more signs of breaking through on the plate and quickly has established himself as a premier baserunner, which again was on display in the course of the 6-1 win over the Twins in The Bronx.
Volpe reached base thrice and represented a threat in each instance.
Within the second inning, Volpe walked and used a method that has gained popularity across the league — staying near the bag before making a big shuffle step toward the following base after which taking off — to swipe second.
DJ LeMahieu then singled to right to drive in Volpe.
“A whole lot of the work of the coaching staff and all of the scouting departments — they work really hard to attempt to search for windows and so they keep us prepared,” Volpe said after he became the fourth Yankee up to now 34 years to record six steals through the primary 15 games of a season (joining Jacoby Ellsbury in 2014, Brett Gardner in 2010 and Derek Jeter in 1998).
Volpe reached again within the eighth, when he singled and stole each second and third base, where he was stranded.
The steals have gotten a much bigger a part of his game perhaps because he’s reaching base more often.
The 21-year-old, who began slowly at bat, has reached base in seven of 15 plate appearances over the past 4 games.
“He’s gotten really good at being under control while also being super aggressive and dealing his momentum on the market,” manager Aaron Boone said of Volpe. “He’s just really heady and really good at it, and he causes problems when he gets on the bases.”
Josh Donaldson is eligible to be activated from the 10-day injured list Sunday, but Boone was cagey on the Yankees’ plans for the third baseman.
Boone declared Donaldson “healthy and able to go,” but was not definitive concerning whether Donaldson would come off the IL immediately.
The Yankees have Monday off, which could cause them to wait until Tuesday to officially bring Donaldson back. Boone mentioned a rehab project as one other possibility for Donaldson, who strained his right hamstring running the bases on April 5.
“We’ll have those conversations here today, tomorrow, the following day, whatever,” Boone said. “But physically, he’s doing rather well.”
Donaldson, who has hit and ran the bases Saturday, has no box left to envision off physically.
The 37-year-old was 2-for-16 with a house run before the injury surfaced after a down season last 12 months.
In his stead, DJ LeMahieu has played most frequently at third base, with Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Oswaldo Cabrera also getting starts on the spot.
Each time Donaldson is activated, the Yankees again would have a crowded infield, with three players — LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres and Donaldson — competing for at-bats at two spots.
The roster would should be trimmed, too, subtracting one bat from a bench that features Cabrera, Kiner-Falefa, Aaron Hicks, Willie Calhoun and Franchy Cordero.
After he missed three games with a decent quad, LeMahieu returned to the lineup and went 1-for-4 with an RBI single.
In recognition of Jackie Robinson Day, the Yankees hosted the 2023 class of the Yankees-CUNY (City University of Recent York) Sport Management Mentoring Program.
Everyone across baseball wore No. 42.
“One of the crucial essential figures in American history, once you take a look at it,” Boone said. “Obviously amazing athlete, but so way more than that.”
