New York Yankees’ Anthony Volpe Set for Superstar Rise? MLB Legend Endorses Derek Jeter’s Successor Following Promising Rookie Displays

Sometimes even statistics can deceive; they paint one picture, but the reality is something entirely different. New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe is an example of that, as when one looks at his 2023 numbers, they are not at all flattering. He faced classic rookie troubles, and they got exacerbated by the fact that he most probably came in one year earlier than his development would suggest. But hidden behind those numbers was a giant promise.

Throughout the season, Volpe kept showing momentary sparks and smart play. One could see the rough edges around the slugger, but there was a clear diamond present between those edges. With fans already hoping for a better 2024, a baseball legend has also shown his support for Volpe.

Anthony Volpe: A rocket ready to launch

Since the day Volpe debuted in the Pinstripes, he has been seen with extremely high hopes. One of the youngest members of the squad, Volpe, was seen as a long-term project for the Yankees. A player who could be Derek Jeter‘s successor. While in his debut season, things were a little shaky, there’s a strong belief that he will rise soon. Baseball legend Harold Reynolds said the same thing on MLB Network’s Hot Stove: “I think Anthony Volpe is going to take off big time.”

This has been a sentiment long shared by many long-term Yankees fans. Despite having a below-average slash line of .209/.283/.383, Volpe still managed to create history differently. With 24 stolen bases and 21 home runs, he became the first 20/20 rookie in the Pinstripes’ history. But this was not all.

With a barrel percent of 9%, 88.7 velocity, and a 43% hard-hit rate, Volpe was above average in the league. It was only his tendency to allow strikeouts that lowered his numbers. But the thing is, strikeouts are fixable, and these numbers show the raw power that Volpe possesses. With a little fine-tuning, Volpe could become a huge slugger for the Yankees.

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That’s something that the Yankees are betting on, as well as showing trust in Volpe’s development.

How could Volpe help the New York Yankees?

Reports emerged that most of the Yankees squad was already in Tampa, preparing for spring training. After a disastrous season, there’s a visible fire in the belly of the pinstripes. Anthony Volpe is set to play a huge role in 2024. While the team has added superstar hitters to the mix, it’s players like Volpe that need to step up.

With a 3.3 WAR in 2023, Volpe has shown a potential game-changer within him. If he finds a way to control his swing, there’s a case to be made that he could become a big home-run machine for the Pinstripes. Or he could do even better and become Mr. Reliable, like a certain Derek Jeter.

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