Top Yankees prospect Anthony Volpe is looking forward to a winning future in New York.
During an appearance Tuesday on David Cone’s “Toeing the Slab” podcast, Volpe — a star shortstop whom the Yankees drafted 30th overall in 2019 — was asked about the debate surrounding whether the team should sign a superstar free-agent shortstop, such as Carlos Correa, or consider a stopgap signing to fill the spot until Volpe is ready for the majors.
The 20-year-old Volpe said it is “surreal” being in this position, considering he grew up a fan of the team.
“I know I probably sound like a broken record, but at the end of the day, whether it happens this year, next year, whatever, I’d just really like to stay in the present and just work every day to try and become that player that one day is that player wins multiple World Series with the Yankees,” Volpe said.
“I think that’s the long-term goal and I have a lot of short-term goals that probably… that I can control. That’s kind of all I’m really focused about and wherever the chips fall, they fall.”
Volpe had a standout year in 2021, beginning with the Low-A Tampa Tarpons in May before moving up to the High-A Hudson Valley Renegades in July. He had an average of .294 (121 hits for 412 at-bats), with 27 home runs, 113 runs scored, and 86 RBIs between the two teams.
The minor-leaguer, who hails from New Jersey, also explained that he’s focused on getting to the majors to “help out” the Yankees, who had an early playoff exit for the fifth straight year. The team dropped the wild-card game to the rival Red Sox in October.
“We’re going to compete. We may fail and it may feel weird for a little bit, but ultimately I think everyone’s bought into the fact that if we do this, if we train this way, it’ll make us better players in the long run,” Volpe said about working his way onto the Yankees’ roster.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone had high praise for the young shortstop just days before Volpe’s podcast appearance. Boone called Volpe a “special guy” who the Yankees are “incredibly excited about.”
Correa, meanwhile, remains one of the biggest names available on the market. Amid the MLB lockout, however, it remains to be seen where his next destination may be after seven seasons with the Astros. He was loosely linked to the Cubs earlier this month.