Anthony Volpe Stats & Scouting Report — College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

AB	55
AVG	.382
OBP	.477
SLG	.564
HR	2

Full name Anthony Michael Volpe
Born 04/28/2001 in New York, NY
Profile Ht.: 5'9" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Delbarton
Debut 03/30/2023
Drafted in the 1st round (30th overall) by the New York Yankees in 2019 (signed for $2,740,300).

View Draft Report

A smaller, 5-foot-11, 180-pound shortstop out of New Jersey, Volpe doesn’t overwhelm with tools or physicality, but he plays an extremely sound game both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Volpe has well below-average power from the right side, but he has a short swing with quick hands and is capable of spraying line drives to all fields. A solid-average runner during the summer showcase circuit, scouts have clocked better run times from Volpe this spring, to the point where he’s now considered an above-average runner. Volpe’s defensive ability is what sets him apart, however, as he has some of the most consistent and reliable hands in the class. He doesn’t have a huge arm or elite range, but Volpe’s instincts and overall feel for playing defense are extremely polished. He seems to make every play that comes to him—making the position look much easier than it actually is. Volpe has efficient footwork and gets around the ball well to put himself in solid positions to throw across the diamond, and he has no issues throwing from multiple angles, on the run or while turning a double play at second base. Because he is undersized and lacks a standout tool—though some scouts believe he’ll eventually be a plus hitter—Volpe could be tough to sign out of a Vanderbilt commitment. But he was arguably the highest-performing position player at USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational this spring, which came in front of plenty of scouting directions and could push him into Day 1 consideration. In addition to his skills on the field, Volpe is a natural, vocal leader, and he commands his teammates well from the shortstop position. He always plays with a frenetic, high energy that endears him to scouts as well.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 65/High

Track Record: Volpe had a standout senior season in 2019 at Delbarton High, the New Jersey program where he was teammates with fellow future first-rounder Jack Leiter. The Yankees believed enough in both Volpe's performance and makeup that they spent their first-round pick and a bonus of $2,740,300 to keep him from a commitment to Vanderbilt. His pro debut was hampered by a case of mononucleosis that muted his performance at Rookie-level Pulaski. Then the pandemic happened, and Volpe spent the season working remotely to up his game. When he re-emerged in 2021, he looked like a player with the potential to be the team's shortstop of the future. When the Yankees passed on signing free agents Carlos Correa or Trevor Story following the 2021 season, those thoughts were reinforced. Now, it was on Volpe to produce an encore. After a winter of training that included a stop at Wake Forest's pitching lab to help strengthen his throwing arm, Volpe got his first upper-level test when he was assigned to Double-A Somerset. Volpe stumbled out of the blocks in April but turned it on thereafter. From May 1 until the close of the season, the 21-year-old hit .268/.356/.493 in a tenure split between Double-A and Triple-A. He closed the first half of the season with a walk-off home run that sent Somerset to the Eastern League playoffs, where they would eventually win the championship.

Scouting Report: Volpe is the purest hitter in the Yankees' system, a title he comes by through an extremely mature approach that allows him to pick through pitches he doesn't want until he gets something he can impact. Then he unleashes a powerful yet compact swing that produces hard line drives thanks to a swing path that keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time. Scouts noticed a few early tweaks that might have gotten him a little off-kilter in the early going. Notably, they saw a bigger stride and a higher hand-set than in years past. The former was causing unwanted head movement and the latter upset his timing and was causing him to work around pitches instead of through them. Once Volpe corrected those issues, he started looking like the 2021 version of himself. Multiple scouts brought up a weakness against spin from righthanders, which is among the final holes he'll have to close before he's ready to take over in the Bronx. Scouts are split about whether Volpe can remain at shortstop. Nobody believes he will be an elite defender at the position, but there are some who think he can be average and that his lack of standout arm strength can be mitigated by excellent instincts and a quick release. He has quick feet but his range at shortstop is average at best. He's an above-average runner whose strong instincts helped him swipe 50 bases.

The Future: Volpe might return to Triple-A to begin 2023, but it's clear the Yankees view him as part of their long-term future. Whether that's at shortstop or elsewhere on the infield is the biggest remaining question.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
Track Record: Entering the 2021 season, Volpe’s career could be best described as incomplete. Drafted in the first round in 2019, his first test in pro ball at Rookie-level Pulaski was marred by a case of mononucleosis. The 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Yankees did not hold a domestic instructional league, which left Volpe to do as much development as he could through independent training and via remote work with the organization’s coaches. He emerged from the shutdown with renewed health and added strength, which he used to produce one of the finest seasons in the minor leagues. In a season split evenly between Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley he hit .294/.423/.604 with 27 home runs and 33 stolen bases in 109 games. What Volpe did in 2021 not only positioned him as a clear piece of the organization’s long term plans, it exceeded even the Yankees’ wildest expectations.

Scouting Report: Volpe entered what appeared to be a standard minor league offseason in 2020 with the goal of increasing his peak exit velocity. He had much longer than expected to achieve that goal, but quickly showed off his more powerful swing by producing average and maximum exit velocities of 91.5 and 108.3 mph before a move from Low-A to High-A. He’s gone all-in on the Yankees’ internal motto of Hit Strikes Hard and produces some of the highest quality at-bats in the organization. He controls at-bats from the moment he gets in the box and does not relent no matter the count. He shows no fear with two strikes and is content to foul off pitches until he gets something he can do damage on. Whether he’s facing premium velocity, high spin or extreme changes of speed, Volpe stays balanced and on time, often resulting in a ball hit with authority. The combination of increased strength and a mature approach have produced a player who earns future plus grades for both his hitting and power. In the field, Volpe shows quick actions and instincts as well as solid hands and footwork, all of which make up for fringe-average range and a near-average arm boosted by strong accuracy and a solid internal clock. Scouts are split on whether he can remain a shortstop, mostly because of his fringy arm, but even his doubters acknowledge his outstanding work ethic could help him work to increase his arm strength. Volpe is an above-average runner as well—his stolen base totals were somewhat inflated in Low-A due to the rules designed to promote increased activity on the bases—and he has enough speed and aptitude to steal double-digit bases. From the first day of minor league spring training, scouts buzzed about Volpe’s combination of skills, instincts and makeup.

The Future: After conquering both Class A levels, Volpe’s next test will be Double-A Somerset. The biggest question he’ll have to answer is whether he faces a move to second base, either in deference to fellow prospect Oswald Peraza or a free agent import.
TRACK RECORD: Volpe was part of a Delbarton High team that featured righthander Jack Leiter and the son of former New Jersey governor Chris Christie. The Yankees drafted Volpe in the first round, No. 30 overall, and signed him for just under $2.75 million. A case of mononucleosis limited Volpe's pro debut to 34 games at Rookie-level Pulaski, then he didn't play in 2020 with the minor league season canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Volpe has an innate ability to square balls up and produce quality contact. His main goal during the shutdown was to add strength to his lean frame, and the Yankees say he's added 15 pounds of muscle since being drafted. Volpe needs to continue to get stronger to impact the ball more, but he has the tools to hit for average. Defensively, Volpe earns high marks for his quickness and instincts at shortstop and shows enough arm strength to stick at the position in the long-term. He's an above-average runner.

THE FUTURE: Volpe will still be 19 on Opening Day and has time on his side to make the needed physical gains. Depending on his camp performance, he'll open in either extended spring training or low Class A.
TRACK RECORD: Volpe formed a dynamic duo at Delbarton High with righthander and fellow Yankees draftee Jack Leiter. Volpe signed for $2,740,300 and headed directly to Rookie-level Pulaski. He contracted mononucleosis, however, which sapped his strength and cut his season short.

SCOUTING REPORT: Volpe doesn't have one standout tool, but the sum of his parts makes him an attractive player. He utilizes a short, quick swing to shoot line drives to all fields. The Yankees also like his ability and hand-eye coordination, which they believe will result in plenty of contact and a low strikeout rate. He's a gifted defender with smooth hands and feet that should allow him to stick up the middle. He's also got enough range and speed to stay at the position, even if his throwing arm is only average.

THE FUTURE: After an offseason to recover from the mono, Volpe is a strong candidate to head to low Class A Charleston to begin 2020.

Draft Prospects

A smaller, 5-foot-11, 180-pound shortstop out of New Jersey, Volpe doesn't overwhelm with tools or physicality, but he plays an extremely sound game both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Volpe has well below-average power from the right side, but he has a short swing with quick hands and is capable of spraying line drives to all fields. A solid-average runner during the summer showcase circuit, scouts have clocked better run times from Volpe this spring, to the point where he's now considered an above-average runner. Volpe's defensive ability is what sets him apart, however, as he has some of the most consistent and reliable hands in the class. He doesn't have a huge arm or elite range, but Volpe's instincts and overall feel for playing defense are extremely polished. He seems to make every play that comes to him--making the position look much easier than it actually is. Volpe has efficient footwork and gets around the ball well to put himself in solid positions to throw across the diamond, and he has no issues throwing from multiple angles, on the run or while turning a double play at second base. Because he is undersized and lacks a standout tool--though some scouts believe he'll eventually be a plus hitter--Volpe could be tough to sign out of a Vanderbilt commitment. But he was arguably the highest-performing position player at USA Baseball's National High School Invitational this spring, which came in front of plenty of scouting directions and could push him into Day 1 consideration. In addition to his skills on the field, Volpe is a natural, vocal leader, and he commands his teammates well from the shortstop position. He always plays with a frenetic, high energy that endears him to scouts as well.

Minor League Top Prospects

Few prospects had a better season than Volpe, who conquered Low-A by mid July and looked just as impressive for Hudson Valley in his first full pro season. Coming out of the 2019 draft, Volpe was known for making plenty of contact with quick hands and a short swing, but he had well below-average power at the time. He spent the 2020 shutdown adding muscle to his frame, translating to 27 homers and 35 doubles between the Class A levels. Volpe, who split time between shortstop and second base this season, was lauded for his instincts and intelligence, as well as having an innate sense of the moment in high-pressure situations. The 20-year-old isn’t the most tooled-up prospect, but he makes the most out of his ability and his work ethic has led to consistent improvement. “The way he puts together at-bats, for me, was something that was next level . . . He’s pretty impressive,” Adamson said.
Volpe’s 2019 season—muted by a bout of mononucleosis—left plenty of questions about what the Yankees had in their first-round pick. After using the lost 2020 season to gain strength, Volpe put together one of the finest seasons in the minors. Volpe shined brightly at the plate, where he used an mature approach to work his way into advantageous counts and force pitchers to give him pitches to drive. Scouts and opposing managers rave about Volpe’s combination of hitting ability and power, which helped him become the only player in the minor leagues with more than 25 home runs and more than 30 stolen bases. There are questions about whether Volpe will stick at shortstop, mostly because his arm strength might be better suited at second base. The same exceptional makeup he showed working remotely in 2020 could help keep him at shortstop.
The Yankees’ first-round pick this year, Volpe doesn’t boast a carrying tool but displays a polished all-around game and advanced defensive ability and instincts at a premium position. Volpe’s first pro season was cut short, and he played his final game on Aug. 11 after contracting mononucleosis. He didn’t break down any doors with his bat—the 5-foot-11 shortstop hit .215/.349/.355—but he managed a solid strikeout-to-walk ratio (38-to-23) and stood out for evaluators with his defense at shortstop. While power is unlikely to be a big part of Volpe’s game given his current physicality and raw power, he showed enough pop to at least keep teams honest. "He actually got two hits against us. He doubled over the left fielder’s head twice,” one Appy League manager said. "We had the left fielder playing in and he surprised us, got it over us twice. We should have learned after the first time, but we didn’t.”

Top 100 Rankings

Best Tools List

Rated Best Hitter for Average in the New York Yankees in 2023

Scouting Reports

BA Grade/Risk: 65/High

Track Record: Volpe had a standout senior season in 2019 at Delbarton High, the New Jersey program where he was teammates with fellow future first-rounder Jack Leiter. The Yankees believed enough in both Volpe's performance and makeup that they spent their first-round pick and a bonus of $2,740,300 to keep him from a commitment to Vanderbilt. His pro debut was hampered by a case of mononucleosis that muted his performance at Rookie-level Pulaski. Then the pandemic happened, and Volpe spent the season working remotely to up his game. When he re-emerged in 2021, he looked like a player with the potential to be the team's shortstop of the future. When the Yankees passed on signing free agents Carlos Correa or Trevor Story following the 2021 season, those thoughts were reinforced. Now, it was on Volpe to produce an encore. After a winter of training that included a stop at Wake Forest's pitching lab to help strengthen his throwing arm, Volpe got his first upper-level test when he was assigned to Double-A Somerset. Volpe stumbled out of the blocks in April but turned it on thereafter. From May 1 until the close of the season, the 21-year-old hit .268/.356/.493 in a tenure split between Double-A and Triple-A. He closed the first half of the season with a walk-off home run that sent Somerset to the Eastern League playoffs, where they would eventually win the championship.

Scouting Report: Volpe is the purest hitter in the Yankees' system, a title he comes by through an extremely mature approach that allows him to pick through pitches he doesn't want until he gets something he can impact. Then he unleashes a powerful yet compact swing that produces hard line drives thanks to a swing path that keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time. Scouts noticed a few early tweaks that might have gotten him a little off-kilter in the early going. Notably, they saw a bigger stride and a higher hand-set than in years past. The former was causing unwanted head movement and the latter upset his timing and was causing him to work around pitches instead of through them. Once Volpe corrected those issues, he started looking like the 2021 version of himself. Multiple scouts brought up a weakness against spin from righthanders, which is among the final holes he'll have to close before he's ready to take over in the Bronx. Scouts are split about whether Volpe can remain at shortstop. Nobody believes he will be an elite defender at the position, but there are some who think he can be average and that his lack of standout arm strength can be mitigated by excellent instincts and a quick release. He has quick feet but his range at shortstop is average at best. He's an above-average runner whose strong instincts helped him swipe 50 bases.

The Future: Volpe might return to Triple-A to begin 2023, but it's clear the Yankees view him as part of their long-term future. Whether that's at shortstop or elsewhere on the infield is the biggest remaining question.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 65/High

Track Record: Volpe had a standout senior season in 2019 at Delbarton High, the New Jersey program where he was teammates with fellow future first-rounder Jack Leiter. The Yankees believed enough in both Volpe's performance and makeup that they spent their first-round pick and a bonus of $2,740,300 to keep him from a commitment to Vanderbilt. His pro debut was hampered by a case of mononucleosis that muted his performance at Rookie-level Pulaski. Then the pandemic happened, and Volpe spent the season working remotely to up his game. When he re-emerged in 2021, he looked like a player with the potential to be the team's shortstop of the future. When the Yankees passed on signing free agents Carlos Correa or Trevor Story following the 2021 season, those thoughts were reinforced. Now, it was on Volpe to produce an encore. After a winter of training that included a stop at Wake Forest's pitching lab to help strengthen his throwing arm, Volpe got his first upper-level test when he was assigned to Double-A Somerset. Volpe stumbled out of the blocks in April but turned it on thereafter. From May 1 until the close of the season, the 21-year-old hit .268/.356/.493 in a tenure split between Double-A and Triple-A. He closed the first half of the season with a walk-off home run that sent Somerset to the Eastern League playoffs, where they would eventually win the championship.

Scouting Report: Volpe is the purest hitter in the Yankees' system, a title he comes by through an extremely mature approach that allows him to pick through pitches he doesn't want until he gets something he can impact. Then he unleashes a powerful yet compact swing that produces hard line drives thanks to a swing path that keeps the barrel in the zone for a long time. Scouts noticed a few early tweaks that might have gotten him a little off-kilter in the early going. Notably, they saw a bigger stride and a higher hand-set than in years past. The former was causing unwanted head movement and the latter upset his timing and was causing him to work around pitches instead of through them. Once Volpe corrected those issues, he started looking like the 2021 version of himself. Multiple scouts brought up a weakness against spin from righthanders, which is among the final holes he'll have to close before he's ready to take over in the Bronx. Scouts are split about whether Volpe can remain at shortstop. Nobody believes he will be an elite defender at the position, but there are some who think he can be average and that his lack of standout arm strength can be mitigated by excellent instincts and a quick release. He has quick feet but his range at shortstop is average at best. He's an above-average runner whose strong instincts helped him swipe 50 bases.

The Future: Volpe might return to Triple-A to begin 2023, but it's clear the Yankees view him as part of their long-term future. Whether that's at shortstop or elsewhere on the infield is the biggest remaining question.

Scouting Grades: Hitting: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
BA Grade: 60/High

Track Record: Entering the 2021 season, Volpe&#39s career could be best described as incomplete. Drafted in the first round in 2019, his first test in pro ball at Rookie-level Pulaski was marred by a case of mononucleosis. The 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Yankees did not hold a domestic instructional league, which left Volpe to do as much development as he could through independent training and via remote work with the organization&#39s coaches. He emerged from the shutdown with renewed health and added strength, which he used to produce one of the finest seasons in the minor leagues. In a season split evenly between Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley he hit .294/.423/.604 with 27 home runs and 33 stolen bases in 109 games. What Volpe did in 2021 not only positioned him as a clear piece of the organization&#39s long term plans, it exceeded even the Yankees&#39 wildest expectations.

Scouting Report: Volpe entered what appeared to be a standard minor league offseason in 2020 with the goal of increasing his peak exit velocity. He had much longer than expected to achieve that goal, but quickly showed off his more powerful swing by producing average and maximum exit velocities of 91.5 and 108.3 mph before a move from Low-A to High-A. He&#39s gone all-in on the Yankees&#39 internal motto of “Hit Strikes Hard” and produces some of the highest quality at-bats in the organization. He controls the conflict from the moment he gets in the box and does not relent no matter the count. He shows no fear with two strikes and is content to foul off pitches until he gets something he can damage. Whether he&#39s facing premium velocity, high spin or extreme changes of speed, Volpe stays balanced and on time, often resulting in a ball hit with authority. The combination of increased strength and a mature approach have produced a player who earns future plus grades for both his hitting and power. In the field, Volpe shows quick actions and instincts as well as solid hands and footwork, all of which make up for fringe-average range and a near-average arm boosted by strong accuracy and a solid internal clock. Scouts disagree about whether he can remain a shortstop, mostly because of his arm, but even his doubters acknowledge that his outstanding work ethic could help him work to increase his arm strength. Volpe is an above-average runner as well—his stolen base totals were somewhat inflated in Low-A due to the rules designed to promote increased activity on the bases—but he&#39s got enough speed and aptitude to steal double-digit bases. From the first day of minor league spring training, scouts buzzed about Volpe&#39s combination of skills, instincts and makeup. They never stopped singing his praises.

The Future: After conquering both levels of Class A, Volpe&#39s next test will be the upper levels, beginning with Double-A Somerset. The biggest question he&#39ll have to answer is whether he faces a move to second base, either in deference to fellow prospect Oswald Peraza or a free agent import.

Scouting Grades: Hit: 60. Power: 60. Speed: 55. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
Track Record: Entering the 2021 season, Volpe’s career could be best described as incomplete. Drafted in the first round in 2019, his first test in pro ball at Rookie-level Pulaski was marred by a case of mononucleosis. The 2020 season was canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic, and the Yankees did not hold a domestic instructional league, which left Volpe to do as much development as he could through independent training and via remote work with the organization’s coaches. He emerged from the shutdown with renewed health and added strength, which he used to produce one of the finest seasons in the minor leagues. In a season split evenly between Low-A Tampa and High-A Hudson Valley he hit .294/.423/.604 with 27 home runs and 33 stolen bases in 109 games. What Volpe did in 2021 not only positioned him as a clear piece of the organization’s long term plans, it exceeded even the Yankees’ wildest expectations.

Scouting Report: Volpe entered what appeared to be a standard minor league offseason in 2020 with the goal of increasing his peak exit velocity. He had much longer than expected to achieve that goal, but quickly showed off his more powerful swing by producing average and maximum exit velocities of 91.5 and 108.3 mph before a move from Low-A to High-A. He’s gone all-in on the Yankees’ internal motto of Hit Strikes Hard and produces some of the highest quality at-bats in the organization. He controls at-bats from the moment he gets in the box and does not relent no matter the count. He shows no fear with two strikes and is content to foul off pitches until he gets something he can do damage on. Whether he’s facing premium velocity, high spin or extreme changes of speed, Volpe stays balanced and on time, often resulting in a ball hit with authority. The combination of increased strength and a mature approach have produced a player who earns future plus grades for both his hitting and power. In the field, Volpe shows quick actions and instincts as well as solid hands and footwork, all of which make up for fringe-average range and a near-average arm boosted by strong accuracy and a solid internal clock. Scouts are split on whether he can remain a shortstop, mostly because of his fringy arm, but even his doubters acknowledge his outstanding work ethic could help him work to increase his arm strength. Volpe is an above-average runner as well—his stolen base totals were somewhat inflated in Low-A due to the rules designed to promote increased activity on the bases—and he has enough speed and aptitude to steal double-digit bases. From the first day of minor league spring training, scouts buzzed about Volpe’s combination of skills, instincts and makeup.

The Future: After conquering both Class A levels, Volpe’s next test will be Double-A Somerset. The biggest question he’ll have to answer is whether he faces a move to second base, either in deference to fellow prospect Oswald Peraza or a free agent import.
Volpe’s 2019 season—muted by a bout of mononucleosis—left plenty of questions about what the Yankees had in their first-round pick. After using the lost 2020 season to gain strength, Volpe put together one of the finest seasons in the minors. Volpe shined brightly at the plate, where he used an mature approach to work his way into advantageous counts and force pitchers to give him pitches to drive. Scouts and opposing managers rave about Volpe’s combination of hitting ability and power, which helped him become the only player in the minor leagues with more than 25 home runs and more than 30 stolen bases. There are questions about whether Volpe will stick at shortstop, mostly because his arm strength might be better suited at second base. The same exceptional makeup he showed working remotely in 2020 could help keep him at shortstop.
Few prospects had a better season than Volpe, who conquered Low-A by mid July and looked just as impressive for Hudson Valley in his first full pro season. Coming out of the 2019 draft, Volpe was known for making plenty of contact with quick hands and a short swing, but he had well below-average power at the time. He spent the 2020 shutdown adding muscle to his frame, translating to 27 homers and 35 doubles between the Class A levels. Volpe, who split time between shortstop and second base this season, was lauded for his instincts and intelligence, as well as having an innate sense of the moment in high-pressure situations. The 20-year-old isn’t the most tooled-up prospect, but he makes the most out of his ability and his work ethic has led to consistent improvement. “The way he puts together at-bats, for me, was something that was next level . . . He’s pretty impressive,” Adamson said.
TRACK RECORD: Volpe was part of a Delbarton High team that featured righthander Jack Leiter and the son of former New Jersey governor Chris Christie. The Yankees drafted Volpe in the first round, No. 30 overall, and signed him for just under $2.75 million. A case of mononucleosis limited Volpe's pro debut to 34 games at Rookie-level Pulaski, then he didn't play in 2020 with the minor league season canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Volpe has an innate ability to square balls up and produce quality contact. His main goal during the shutdown was to add strength to his lean frame, and the Yankees say he's added 15 pounds of muscle since being drafted. Volpe needs to continue to get stronger to impact the ball more, but he has the tools to hit for average. Defensively, Volpe earns high marks for his quickness and instincts at shortstop and shows enough arm strength to stick at the position in the long-term. He's an above-average runner.

THE FUTURE: Volpe will still be 19 on Opening Day and has time on his side to make the needed physical gains. Depending on his camp performance, he'll open in either extended spring training or low Class A.
TRACK RECORD: Volpe was part of a Delbarton High team that featured righthander Jack Leiter and the son of former New Jersey governor Chris Christie. The Yankees drafted Volpe in the first round, No. 30 overall, and signed him for just under $2.75 million. A case of mononucleosis limited Volpe's pro debut to 34 games at Rookie-level Pulaski, then he didn't play in 2020 with the minor league season canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Volpe has an innate ability to square balls up and produce quality contact. His main goal during the shutdown was to add strength to his lean frame, and the Yankees say he's added 15 pounds of muscle since being drafted. Volpe needs to continue to get stronger to impact the ball more, but he has the tools to hit for average. Defensively, Volpe earns high marks for his quickness and instincts at shortstop and shows enough arm strength to stick at the position in the long-term. He's an above-average runner.

THE FUTURE: Volpe will still be 19 on Opening Day and has time on his side to make the needed physical gains. Depending on his camp performance, he'll open in either extended spring training or low Class A.
TRACK RECORD: Volpe was part of a Delbarton High team that featured righthander Jack Leiter and the son of former New Jersey governor Chris Christie. The Yankees drafted Volpe in the first round, No. 30 overall, and signed him for just under $2.75 million. A case of mononucleosis limited Volpe's pro debut to 34 games at Rookie-level Pulaski, then he didn't play in 2020 with the minor league season canceled by the coronavirus pandemic.

SCOUTING REPORT: Volpe has an innate ability to square balls up and produce quality contact. His main goal during the shutdown was to add strength to his lean frame, and the Yankees say he's added 15 pounds of muscle since being drafted. Volpe needs to continue to get stronger to impact the ball more, but he has the tools to hit for average. Defensively, Volpe earns high marks for his quickness and instincts at shortstop and shows enough arm strength to stick at the position in the long-term. He's an above-average runner.

THE FUTURE: Volpe will still be 19 on Opening Day and has time on his side to make the needed physical gains. Depending on his camp performance, he'll open in either extended spring training or low Class A.
TRACK RECORD: Volpe formed a dynamic duo at Delbarton High with righthander and fellow Yankees draftee Jack Leiter. Volpe signed for $2,740,300 and headed directly to Rookie-level Pulaski. He contracted mononucleosis, however, which sapped his strength and cut his season short.

SCOUTING REPORT: Volpe doesn’t have one standout tool, but the sum of his parts makes him an attractive player. He utilizes a short, quick swing to shoot line drives to all fields. The Yankees also like his ability and hand-eye coordination, which they believe will result in plenty of contact and a low strikeout rate. He’s a gifted defender with smooth hands and feet that should allow him to stick up the middle. He’s also got enough range and speed to stay at the position, even if his throwing arm is only average.

THE FUTURE: After an offseason to recover from the mono, Volpe is a strong candidate to head to low Class A Charleston to begin 2020.
TRACK RECORD: Volpe formed a dynamic duo at Delbarton High with righthander and fellow Yankees draftee Jack Leiter. Volpe signed for $2,740,300 and headed directly to Rookie-level Pulaski. He contracted mononucleosis, however, which sapped his strength and cut his season short.

SCOUTING REPORT: Volpe doesn't have one standout tool, but the sum of his parts makes him an attractive player. He utilizes a short, quick swing to shoot line drives to all fields. The Yankees also like his ability and hand-eye coordination, which they believe will result in plenty of contact and a low strikeout rate. He's a gifted defender with smooth hands and feet that should allow him to stick up the middle. He's also got enough range and speed to stay at the position, even if his throwing arm is only average.

THE FUTURE: After an offseason to recover from the mono, Volpe is a strong candidate to head to low Class A Charleston to begin 2020.
A smaller, 5-foot-11, 180-pound shortstop out of New Jersey, Volpe doesn't overwhelm with tools or physicality, but he plays an extremely sound game both offensively and defensively. At the plate, Volpe has well below-average power from the right side, but he has a short swing with quick hands and is capable of spraying line drives to all fields. A solid-average runner during the summer showcase circuit, scouts have clocked better run times from Volpe this spring, to the point where he's now considered an above-average runner. Volpe's defensive ability is what sets him apart, however, as he has some of the most consistent and reliable hands in the class. He doesn't have a huge arm or elite range, but Volpe's instincts and overall feel for playing defense are extremely polished. He seems to make every play that comes to him--making the position look much easier than it actually is. Volpe has efficient footwork and gets around the ball well to put himself in solid positions to throw across the diamond, and he has no issues throwing from multiple angles, on the run or while turning a double play at second base. Because he is undersized and lacks a standout tool--though some scouts believe he'll eventually be a plus hitter--Volpe could be tough to sign out of a Vanderbilt commitment. But he was arguably the highest-performing position player at USA Baseball's National High School Invitational this spring, which came in front of plenty of scouting directions and could push him into Day 1 consideration. In addition to his skills on the field, Volpe is a natural, vocal leader, and he commands his teammates well from the shortstop position. He always plays with a frenetic, high energy that endears him to scouts as well.
The Yankees’ first-round pick this year, Volpe doesn’t boast a carrying tool but displays a polished all-around game and advanced defensive ability and instincts at a premium position. Volpe’s first pro season was cut short, and he played his final game on Aug. 11 after contracting mononucleosis. He didn’t break down any doors with his bat—the 5-foot-11 shortstop hit .215/.349/.355—but he managed a solid strikeout-to-walk ratio (38-to-23) and stood out for evaluators with his defense at shortstop. While power is unlikely to be a big part of Volpe’s game given his current physicality and raw power, he showed enough pop to at least keep teams honest. "He actually got two hits against us. He doubled over the left fielder’s head twice,” one Appy League manager said. "We had the left fielder playing in and he surprised us, got it over us twice. We should have learned after the first time, but we didn’t.”