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Yankees Shift Anthony Volpe to Third Base in Final Regular-Season Tests

The move gives the team a quick defensive test that could reshape the Wild Card Series roster.

Overview

  • Manager Aaron Boone has said Volpe will probably play third base in the remaining regular-season games and reporters saw him taking ground balls there at Yankee Stadium.
  • Volpe has never appeared at third in the majors but started three games at the position during an August Triple-A stint and has played second and shortstop this season.
  • The experiment responds to prolonged struggles at third from Ryan McMahon, who has gone 6-for-42 in a recent stretch and whose offense and late defensive miscues have created an urgent need for alternatives.
  • George Lombard Jr. will stay at shortstop and Jazz Chisholm Jr. is back at second, so Volpe’s path to playing time this week is primarily as a third-base option and bench versatileist.
  • If Volpe handles third well the Yankees could add infield flexibility to their Wild Card roster, which would affect late-inning matchups and how veterans such as Amed Rosario and Jose Caballero are used.