Anthony Volpe has looked like a different hitter for the last month — the month since he was bumped from the leadoff spot.
After putting up just a .650 OPS during the 76-game stretch at the top of the lineup, the shortstop has an .810 OPS in 24 games since then.
Not surprisingly, Aaron Boone said Sunday he’d prefer not to move Volpe again, which is why Volpe was seventh in the lineup against the Blue Jays.
But he added, “I’ll never rule anything out.”
Anthony Volpe rounds the bases after hitting a home run on Aug. 3, 2024. Jason Szenes for the NY Post
For now, though, Volpe remains elsewhere in the lineup, with Gleyber Torres back at leadoff Sunday after being benched Friday for a lack of hustle.
“I kind of prefer this,’’ Boone said of hitting Volpe in the bottom half of the lineup. “I like where our lineup’s at. Anthony being sixth, seventh, eighth [or] ninth, depending on who’s in the lineup. Especially with the way he’s going now, he adds length.”
It’s been a roller-coaster season for the second-year shortstop, who got off to a stellar start at the plate.
With the season less than two weeks old, Volpe was shifted to the top of the lineup, to shaky results.
“We moved him up there a little bit out of necessity,’’ Boone said. “He was swinging the bat well and we had a couple guys that were struggling in that spot. I’m hoping we remains where we’re at right now with construction.”
Anthony Volpe (r.) celebrates with Yankees teammate Gleyber Torres (l.) after hitting a home run on Aug. 3, 2024. Robert Sabo for NY Post
Boone also believes the turnaround occurred due to some changes Volpe made in his swing.
“It’s a result of him being in a stronger position more consistently so he can fire that swing, along with better swing decisions,’’ Boone said.
Volpe altered his approach at the plate significantly in the offseason to focus more on contact than power and the results have been good, if not completely consistent.
But with the Yankees entering Sunday having scored at least five runs in a season-high eight straight games, Boone sees no reason to make a switch.
