When New York Yankees shortstop Antony Volpe stepped into the batter box on Monday, he saw a familiar face just inches away that made him smile—standing in front was his long-time friend, Jack Leiter. Their relationship goes way back to when they were two kids who crossed paths in the playground of the Delbarton School in Morristown, New Jersey. They were young, but had one goal—to make it to the big league. While Volpe got a head start, Leiter started at the big league this year and Volpe was more than thrilled for him. He said, “I couldn’t be happier for him and his whole family.” 

Back in 2022, Jack Leiter had once imagined this exact scenario: “How cool it would be if I faced Anthony Volpe in pinstripes at Yankee Stadium. That’d be really cool, so I guess that’s something to add to the bucket list.” Little did Leiter know that his bucket list would get ticked out so soon! Two friends, one dream, and years later – it’s manifested into a reality. But of course, not without the help of their family and their coach, Bruce Shatel.

Anthony Volpe and Jack Leiter bring high school bond to the big leagues

In a now-famous interview, Volpe and Leiter’s coach talked about both of his students and how proud he would be to see them in the big league. “It’s going to be a real smile for me,” the coach said, predicting that Jack would probably start Volpe with a breaking pitch, knowing just how competitive he is. On his YES Network show, Bob Lorenz highlighted this scene, saying, “I don’t know whether he has seen that interview.” But if one has played each other for so long, strength and weakness are something you catch on. Plus, given how the game turned out, seems like Volpe knew exactly what he had to do!

Jack Leither, now a right-hander for the Texas Ranger, and Anthony Volpe the Yankee shortstop have been teammates from school, but more than that, they are friends. Volpe mentioned how he needed someone to compete with him at the game and at the classroom and Leiter ticked all those boxes. Plus, together they aced the game and led their team to a state championship in 2019—a big deal indeed. Their bond could have matured more, but their paths changed when the Yankees selected Volpe for 30th overall in the 2019 MLB Draft.

Leiter decided not to sign with the Yankees, who did pick him in the 20th round. But this choice did pay off handsomely, though only in the short run; he secured a $7.92 million contract as a top pick in the 2021 draft. But his professional life has been marred by ups and downs. After his stellar year at Vanderbilt, he faced challenges in the minors and his 2022 season was tough, and it’s only this year that he has made his debut. But even this year has been patchy with him oscillating between the Major League and Triple-A, where he currently holds a 3.51 ERA and a solid 33.3% strikeout rate.

Volpe’s career though took flight early on and now the 23-year-old even has a Gold Glove award to his name. Not just that, he has a 20/20 season even as a rookie—a feat only 15 people have reached in the history of the sport. Leiter’s team, the Texas Rangers, is in turmoil, with not much hope of making it to the playoffs, so this is the time to prove his worth. Leiter’s biggest challenge—facing his friend Volpe! 

Round 1 goes to Anthony Volpe!

Anthony Volpe knew this was a special game and he would be hearing back from his buddies in New Jersey. Afterall he was going against his good friend Jack Leiter for the first time in a major league. Jack’s father, Al Leiter, a former Yankee himself, was there to witness it all. And if it weren’t for the “real world,” Volpe joked, the stands would have been filled with even more familiar faces. “A lot of people were trying, but they got work, all of our friends. If there was a redeye fight or something, they’d all be here,” said Volpe. Well, his friends sure did miss a good game!

And for now, let’s say Round 1 went to Volpe! Very early in the game, Volpe stood his ground—swinging at the first pitch he saw from Leiter for a single then almost took him in his next-at-bat, as the ball soared deep but was then caught at the warning track A highlight reel moment for sure! This was all a part of the incredible game of an 8-4 Yankees win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field.