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The New York Yankees may get a key starter back from injury sooner than expected. Shortstop Anthony Volpe previously underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder back in October. The infielder initially suffered the setback in May of 2025 and reaggravated it again in September. Due to the injury, Volpe hit just .212 to go along with a .391 slugging and .663 OPS on the campaign.

The surgery will prevent Volpe from playing on opening day in 2026. In his place, José Caballero is expected to play shortstop to begin the upcoming season. The veteran utility player was previously acquired in July 2025 from the Tampa Bay Rays. New York, however, also brought Paul DeJong to spring training as a non-roster invitee. The move is likely seen as an insurance policy.

Although an exact timeline for Volpe’s return was not fully mapped out this winter, he was likely expected to make a full recovery in May. “We had an idea of what the best case, what the worst case, and everything in between would have been,” Volpe has now said, as reported by MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch. “I wasn’t shocked. I had great trainers and a great doctor.”

With the new season approaching, the shortstop has begun running, taking dry swings, and fielding ground balls. Because of this progress, Volpe has apparently not ruled out an April return. “Judging on how everything’s gone so far, I’m just excited,” continued Volpe.

Anthony Volpe’s Future Place With New York Yankees is Under Question

GettyAnthony Volpe struggled at the plate and in the field during 2025.

Volpe’s insistence on getting back to the field as soon as possible is certainly understandable. Yankees GM Brian Cashman did not exactly throw a ton of support behind the player when speaking at the winter meetings. In fact, the exec even hinted that Volpe may not immediately get his starting spot back when he returns from injury.

“I have no idea where things can go,” Cashman responded to a question regarding Volpe in December, according to The Athletic. He then rambled off some eyebrow-raising comments about competition at the position, ultimately leading to “may the best man win and keep it.”

Volpe’s permanent place in the Yankees lineup could be under threat if Caballero starts off the season on fire. The veteran managed to post slightly better offensive statistics than Volpe in 2025. He also led MLB with 49 stolen bases on the campaign. Defensively, Caballero outshone Volpe as well. In fact, the injured star led the American League with 19 errors during the most recent season.

Yankees Hopeful That Shortstop Will Bounce Back in 2026

Ultimately, the Yankees are still hoping for a healthy Volpe in 2026. After all, the infielder was previously seen as the organization’s top overall prospect just a couple of years ago. The shortstop has also shown the ability to be a quality hitter during his minor league career, specifically with the Somerset Patriots. He previously collected a Gold Glove award in the big leagues as well.

There is still time for the youngster to prove himself as a Yankees star. New York will be hoping that his disappointing 2025 season was due to the shoulder injury. A fully fit Volpe in 2026 could be a crucial piece of the team’s puzzle going forward.

Christopher Moore Christopher Moore has been a Heavy.com contributor since 2025. With over a decade of experience in the industry, he has published thousands of articles reporting on multiple professional sports. He was previously a sports writer for World Soccer Talk, the Yahoo! Contributor Network, and the Maryland Sports Blog. More about Christopher Moore

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