The roller coaster that has been Anthony Volpe on the plate has reached one other valley, though manager Aaron Boone believes the uphill climb has begun.
Entering play Friday, Volpe — who has been streaky through his major league profession, liable to red-hot streaks and frigid-cold spurts — had gone 6-for-43 (.140) in his past 12 games with 18 strikeouts.
He owned a .908 OPS 12 games into his season, which had fallen to .680.
“You’re series away from being back in that [.800 OPS] neighborhood,” the manager said before the Yankees lost, 4-2, to the Blue Jays in The Bronx, during which Boone saw hope from his on a regular basis shortstop.
Volpe finished 1-for-3 with a double, was hit by a pitch, lined to left field and had a well-struck, 102.1-mph fly out to fairly deep center field.
The seventh-inning double that one-hopped the wall in right field (after which Volpe got here around to attain the then-game-tying run) was essentially the most obvious sign of progress, but Boone was encouraged all day.
“I assumed he was really good, and I noticed [his swing during batting practice] being slightly bit more where it must be,” Boone said.
The Yankees have needed more from Volpe, whom the Rays pounded with fastballs up within the zone, and he entered play having swung and missed at 32.2 percent of the warmers he had seen.
Boone believed Volpe has known how he was being attacked and might need added some “tension” to his swing as he tried to get around on high fastballs.
“It’s like: Just be athletic and quick and fast and let the ball do the work,” Boone said before the sport. “Perhaps slightly muscle-y there through a few of the swings.”
Volpe has adopted the identical approach he took in last October’s impressive postseason, his swing speed seeing an uptick as he has tried to place more power behind his swings. Through the early going, his pop had improved (with 4 homers in first 26 games) but his contact rate has fallen.
“But he’s walking more, hitting the ball hard,” Boone said. “Got to get slightly more contact, but no reason to think that may’t begin to occur again.”
Boone gave a brand new look to his lineup, batting Trent Grisham leadoff, moving Ben Rice to 3rd within the order and bumping Cody Bellinger to fifth.
Grisham, freshly activated off the paternity list, entered playing hitting .320 with a 1.093 OPS before going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
Rice went 1-for-5.
Righty Yoendrys Gómez, whom the Yankees designated for project Tuesday, was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers.
Aaron Judge (1-for-4 with a walk) prolonged his on-base streak in 22 games.
DJ LeMahieu is predicted to play Saturday and Sunday with Double-A Somerset after going 3-for-5 in his first two games of a rehab project.
Boone was undecided what number of games or at-bats LeMahieu will need before becoming an option.
“Let’s get through this week after which type of see what we wish to do next,” Boone said of LeMahieu, who’s rehabbing a left calf strain.
Jake Cousins threw a bullpen session that was the “fifth or sixth” time throwing off a mound, the righty said.
He estimated he’s about two weeks from graduating to live batting practices, and a rehab project would follow.
He estimated he might be ready “early- to mid-June” as he recovers from a flexor strain.
The roller coaster that has been Anthony Volpe on the plate has reached one other valley, though manager Aaron Boone believes the uphill climb has begun.
Entering play Friday, Volpe — who has been streaky through his major league profession, liable to red-hot streaks and frigid-cold spurts — had gone 6-for-43 (.140) in his past 12 games with 18 strikeouts.
He owned a .908 OPS 12 games into his season, which had fallen to .680.
“You’re series away from being back in that [.800 OPS] neighborhood,” the manager said before the Yankees lost, 4-2, to the Blue Jays in The Bronx, during which Boone saw hope from his on a regular basis shortstop.
Volpe finished 1-for-3 with a double, was hit by a pitch, lined to left field and had a well-struck, 102.1-mph fly out to fairly deep center field.
The seventh-inning double that one-hopped the wall in right field (after which Volpe got here around to attain the then-game-tying run) was essentially the most obvious sign of progress, but Boone was encouraged all day.
“I assumed he was really good, and I noticed [his swing during batting practice] being slightly bit more where it must be,” Boone said.
The Yankees have needed more from Volpe, whom the Rays pounded with fastballs up within the zone, and he entered play having swung and missed at 32.2 percent of the warmers he had seen.
Boone believed Volpe has known how he was being attacked and might need added some “tension” to his swing as he tried to get around on high fastballs.
“It’s like: Just be athletic and quick and fast and let the ball do the work,” Boone said before the sport. “Perhaps slightly muscle-y there through a few of the swings.”
Volpe has adopted the identical approach he took in last October’s impressive postseason, his swing speed seeing an uptick as he has tried to place more power behind his swings. Through the early going, his pop had improved (with 4 homers in first 26 games) but his contact rate has fallen.
“But he’s walking more, hitting the ball hard,” Boone said. “Got to get slightly more contact, but no reason to think that may’t begin to occur again.”
Boone gave a brand new look to his lineup, batting Trent Grisham leadoff, moving Ben Rice to 3rd within the order and bumping Cody Bellinger to fifth.
Grisham, freshly activated off the paternity list, entered playing hitting .320 with a 1.093 OPS before going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
Rice went 1-for-5.
Righty Yoendrys Gómez, whom the Yankees designated for project Tuesday, was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers.
Aaron Judge (1-for-4 with a walk) prolonged his on-base streak in 22 games.
DJ LeMahieu is predicted to play Saturday and Sunday with Double-A Somerset after going 3-for-5 in his first two games of a rehab project.
Boone was undecided what number of games or at-bats LeMahieu will need before becoming an option.
“Let’s get through this week after which type of see what we wish to do next,” Boone said of LeMahieu, who’s rehabbing a left calf strain.
Jake Cousins threw a bullpen session that was the “fifth or sixth” time throwing off a mound, the righty said.
He estimated he’s about two weeks from graduating to live batting practices, and a rehab project would follow.
He estimated he might be ready “early- to mid-June” as he recovers from a flexor strain.
