Anthony Volpe Could Be Back With the Yankees Way Sooner Than You Think After Latest Injury Update
Anthony Volpe won’t be on the lineup when the New York Yankees open their 2026 season against the San Francisco Giants. But everything coming out from behind the scenes right now — from the shortstop himself and from manager Aaron Boone — suggests his return is closer than it might seem on paper.
Anthony Volpe Suffered a Shoulder Injury
Volpe was missing from the Yankees’ Opening Day roster in March 2026, with José Caballero stepping in as the starting shortstop. The injury goes back to May 2025, when Volpe felt and heard a pop in his left shoulder after diving for a ball during a game. He was treated with cortisone shots at first, then re-aggravated the injury in September 2025. Shoulder surgery followed in October 2025.
Anthony Volpe Sounds Eager to Get Back Onto the Field
Days before Opening Day in 2026, Volpe gave a short but revealing update on his health. Asked if he planned to watch the season opener, he said: “Yeah.” Asked when he expects to return to batting practice: “Soon.”
He also told NJ.com he’s done harping on the past: “It doesn’t do me any good, so I’m just on to the next and I’m excited to just really put it all behind me. I feel great and amazing now. I can’t wait to get back on the field and just play, so I’m not even thinking about last season.”
Anthony Volpe’s Rehab Plan Is Already Mapped Out
According to Chris Kirschner of The Athletic, the Yankees have a concrete timeline in place. “Anthony Volpe will likely start a rehab assignment around the second week of April, Boone said. He’ll essentially go through a full spring training at that point,” Kirschner posted on X.
So: second week of April for rehab, which means Volpe could be working his way back into game action fairly quickly once the regular season gets rolling.
Boone sounded encouraged by the progress he’s watched firsthand. “I think the last month, and even more specifically, the last couple of weeks, have been really encouraging where Volpe’s kind of turned that next corner of the rehab process,” Boone said. “I think if you ask him now, the last couple weeks, he feels like he’s a healthy guy now.”
Jose Caballero Is More Than a Fill-In
While Volpe works his way back, Caballero has the shortstop job — and Boone isn’t framing it as a temporary fix.
“Cabby’s a really good player,” Boone said per NJ.com. “He does a lot of things that help you win games. I feel really confident with him defensively (at shortstop) being able to hold it down, but also with a lot of the intangible different things he brings to the table offensively and on the base paths, I feel like we’re going to be in great hands.”
That’s a real endorsement, not a manager going through the motions. The Yankees aren’t sitting around waiting. They’re playing the hand they have with Caballero while protecting Volpe’s long-term health.
What to Watch for on the New York Yankees
Volpe signed with the Yankees in 2019 and made his MLB debut in 2023. Shoulder surgery and a months-long rehab at this point in his career puts him at a crossroads, but the early signals from his recovery look positive. Boone’s “healthy guy” comment and the specific April rehab window both point the same direction.
For anyone tracking how this roster takes shape over the first few weeks, the second week of April is when things should start getting interesting.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
