CHICAGO, IL – JULY 31: Anthony Volpe #7 of the New York Yankees looks on during the game between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on Friday, July 31, 2026 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by George Gaza/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
MLB Photos via Getty Images
The New York Yankees appeared to have found their shortstop of the future when George Lombard Jr. arrived in the Bronx earlier this month.
The organization quickly handed the 21-year-old its primary shortstop duties, with Anthony Volpe sent down to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre to continue working through a difficult stretch in his own young career.
Lombard’s arrival represented a significant change for a Yankees organization that had spent years developing Volpe as its long-term answer at shortstop. And the top prospect has already shown flashes of why New York is so high on him, batting .253 with two home runs and a .677 OPS through his first 23 games while also making several impressive defensive plays.
But a sudden knee issue has already forced the Yankees to reconsider their depth options.
New York Yankees Make Telling Anthony Volpe Decision After George Lombard Jr Injury
After Lombard exited Saturday’s game against the Boston Red Sox with right knee discomfort, New York turned to Jose Caballero at shortstop while Amed Rosario moved to third base. The Yankees later revealed that Lombard’s imaging showed no structural damage and that he was considered day to day after the setback.
But the immediate question was whether the Yankees would need to bring Volpe back up to the big-league club with an opportunity to take the shortstop position back with Lombard sidelined.
Notably, on Sunday, the Yankees started Volpe at third base in Triple-A,
In a notable development, Volpe started at third base for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Sunday, according to the official Minor League Baseball box score.
That represents a significant departure for a player who had been the team’s everyday shortstop for most of his career. The prolonged move to the hot corner for Volpe, even amid a shortstop injury in the big leagues, suggests that the Yankees are in no rush to see their former heir apparent return to the role.
New York Yankees Make Surprising Anthony Volpe Move As George Lombard Jr Takes Over Shortstop
The Yankees turned heads last week with their decision to move Volpe into a third base role.
Anthony Volpe got his first start at third base today in Triple A,” ESPN’s Jorge Castillo reported on Saturday. “He had been bouncing between second base and shortstop since getting optioned.”
The Yankees might feel that their middle infield is set for the near-term future, and that Volpe would be most valuable to the franchise if he is able to get a handle on third base. And, surprisingly enough, the organization has stuck with that decision even as they were suddenly down a shortstop on the big-league roster.
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