The New York Yankees are off to one of the stronger starts in the American League, sitting atop the AL East with a 14-9 record. Tuesday night’s 4-0 shutout of the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park added another win to a growing pile.
But one piece has been missing since Opening Day. Anthony Volpe has not appeared in a single MLB game in 2026, working his way back from surgery to repair a partially torn left labrum.
Tuesday brought the clearest sign yet that the wait is nearly over.
When Is Volpe Coming Back?
The Yankees officially transferred Volpe’s rehab assignment from Double-A Somerset to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday.
Before the promotion, Volpe spent four games with Somerset and handled everything asked of him. He hit .364 with four hits, two runs, a walk, and two stolen bases while posting a perfect fielding percentage at shortstop.
The next benchmark is clear. Volpe needs to accumulate 55 plate appearances at Triple-A and play shortstop consistently before the Yankees consider activating him.
“I’m just focused on coming back and helping the team any way I can,” Volpe said.
That is the mindset of a player who has not wasted a single day of his rehab. Every step has been deliberate. Every box has been checked on schedule.
GettyNEW YORK, NEW YORK – MAY 20: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees reacts after hitting an RBI double against the Texas Rangers during the sixth inning at Yankee Stadium on May 20, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Volpe Makes Immediate Impact at Triple-A
He wasted no time. In his first Triple-A game on Tuesday night, Volpe went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in a 7-1 RailRiders victory over Rochester.
The power was there immediately. The shortstop play was there. Everything the Yankees needed to see in his debut, he delivered.
Jasson Domínguez added to the night, homering in the sixth inning and finishing with a pair of doubles as well. Scranton is producing.
The Homecoming That Came Before
Before Triple-A, Volpe’s rehab took him somewhere more personal. Somerset is not just a pit stop. It is home.
Volpe grew up in Watchung, New Jersey, less than 25 miles from TD Bank Ballpark. He played 110 games for the Patriots in 2022, slashing .251/.348/.472 with 18 home runs and a team-leading 44 stolen bases.
It had been 1,347 days since Volpe last wore the Somerset uniform. His family made the trip, including his dog Jedi. Little leaguers held up signs in the stands. Fans lined the dugout tunnel hoping for a moment with the Yankees shortstop.
Final Word for the Yankees
Volpe is not back yet. But he is getting closer and closer. Yesterday was another positive step.
“I feel like we have an amazing group of guys that can literally win the World Series,” Volpe said.
For now, the Yankees are winning without him. What happens when he walks back into that lineup is worth watching.
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