New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe’s story has been nothing short of amazing. In just two major league seasons, he has already significantly contributed to the team. At just 23 years old, he is living his childhood dream of becoming a Yankee.
Volpe was born and raised in New York City and New Jersey. His parents and family are lifelong Yankee fans and he easily adopted that same trait.
Courtesy of @DaniWex on X / Isabelle Volpe
In 2009, when Volpe was eight years old, the Yankees won the World Series. Volpe and his family attended the parade to celebrate the win, a picture of which circulated the internet prior to the 2024 World Series.
Volpe has represented the United States in baseball since he was 12 years old. In 2013, the U.S. team won gold at the Baseball World Cup in Taipei City, Taiwan. In 2016, the U-15 team won bronze at the Baseball World Cup in Iwaki, Japan. In 2018, at the Copabe U-18 Pan-American Championship, the team won gold.
Courtesy of Delbarton School Athletics
Volpe went to Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey. He played on the baseball team along with Jack Lieter, who now plays for the Texas Rangers. In 2019, the team won the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association State Championship for non-public schools. That same year, he was named the New Jersey High School Player of the Year by Perfect Game.
Upon his graduation in 2019, Volpe entered the Major League draft. He was picked in the first round by the Yankees, uprooting his original commitment to play baseball at Vanderbilt University.
Courtesy of Anthony Colistra
Volpe spent his first three years in the minor leagues. Before the start of the 2023 season, he received an invitation to spring training. He was able to show the team and coaches his progress during his time in the minors. Just days before the start of the season, the Yankees called him up to be the shortstop on opening day – a dream come true for the hometown hero.
In his rookie year, he won a Gold Glove award, had a 20/20 season, and was the first Yankee to do it in their rookie year.
Volpe started off the 2024 season on a high, moving up to the leadoff spot just a few weeks in and stayed there until early July. He slowed down a little and came back hot after the All-Star. Volpe was ready come playoffs, and had a batting average of .286 and 14 hits in the postseason.
Game four of the World Series was a do-or-die game for the Yankees. At the bottom of the third inning with two outs and the bases loaded, Volpe hit a grand slam, taking the lead of the game. It was an incredible moment and just what the Yankees needed. Besides that, he had three other runs and two stolen bases. Volpe was the first player to ever have four runs batted in and two stolen bases in a World Series game.
After the game he joined Derek Jeter – Volpe’s favorite player growing up, David Ortiz and Alex Rodriguez for an interview. He explained how much the Yankees have meant to him his whole life. He also mentioned all the great memories he has of watching Jeter and the team play when he was younger.
At the end of the interview, Jeter told Volpe he “[has] a lot of kids now in the New York, New Jersey area that want to grow up and be [him].”
Courtesy of Derek Jeter via X
Edited by Brittany Snow
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