Playing for a major league team is a dream come true for any pro baseballer. Playing for the New York Yankees was Anthony Volpe’s. The 22-year-old made his MLB debut at shortstop on Opening Day 2023 and has since exceeded expectations. The road hasn’t been without its bumps but all signs say he’s headed in the right direction. Volpe grew up watching the Bronx Bombers and dreamed of playing in pinstripes one day, much like his icon, Derek Jeter.

A top prospect in the Yankees’ organization, Volpe passed spring training with flying colors. After the front office made the revelation of a lifetime for him, they had another surprise in store. Derek Jeter, former captain and Yankees legend, was on the phone for him.

Hal Steinbrenner made a call between Derek Jeter and Anthony Volpe possible

Volpe had always dreamed of playing on the same stage as his favorite player one day. Some years later, not only did the moment finally come, but the young star also got a chance to talk to him. On The New York Post’s “The Show with Joel Sherman and Jon Heyman” podcast, Hal Steinbrenner discussed how he set up a call between the two generations of shortstops.

“I was in the room during that final meeting, talking about him. The right message was delivered to him…I told him, ‘You are our starting shortstop for 2023. This is not a trial. It’s going to be that way for the ups and the potential downs,'” Steinbrenner said. “I got Jeter on the phone. Jeter was nice enough to talk to him for a little bit and give him some words of encouragement, it was a great meeting.”

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As for what Jeter had to say? “Just play and have fun. Enjoy it and embrace it,” Volpe said later. The young shortstop has received many Jeter comparisons, which perhaps makes him an ever more ideal candidate for the job. Not only that, but the former captain personally congratulated Volpe too!

Jeter knows exactly the kind of journey Volpe is now set on

In the twenty seasons that Derek Jeter played in the major leagues, he never shed his pinstripes. Anthony Volpe wants to do the same and at the rate he’s going, he just might be able to do it. Jeter clearly thinks so too and believes in him. Just before Volpe was set to make his MLB debut, the Hall of Famer tweeted, “Congratulations Anthony Volpe. There’s nothing like playing shortstop for the New York Yankees.”

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Of course, he would know. Volpe’s journey will be something similar and fans are excited to see where he could go.