Remember what Derek Jeter remarked about Anthony Volpe recently? “You gotta stay positive. Gotta keep working.” For a 25-year-old shortstop, a pep talk coming in from someone like Jeter makes a great deal. But it’s expected from Jeter to be compassionate for his Yankees players, but across the town? Well, the veterans from the Mets don’t have that compulsion to rally behind Volpe. And they didn’t. Courtesy: Bobby Valentine.

It’s beyond any doubt that Anthony Volpe’s season with the Yankees hasn’t gone the way he or the team hoped. Currently, leading the AL with 19 errors and just two hits in his last 17 at-bats, Volpe’s career in pinstripes is at stake. And adding up his shoulder issue and cortisone shot, things are surely looking grim. What’s worse is that he has now been benched for the entire Boston series. And for Valentine, that’s a good chance to take a jab at his crosstown rival.

“I think John was one of the biggest influences for us and that infield because you can throw to Johnny anywhere… They make you comfortable to do something. The shortstop across town was so uncomfortable that he’s been benched now. Think about that,” Valentine said on the eve of the Mets alumni classic.

Valentine, who played 111 games for the Mets over two seasons, talked about how important it is to feel comfortable in the infield. He cited John Olerud as an example. And surely Olerud, with his 3x Gold Glove awards, was special in the infield. However, while it may have sounded like Valentine was taking a jab at Volpe for getting benched, that’s not really the case.

“Aaron Boone said he doesn’t think Anthony Volpe will start any game this series but said hopefully he’s available in some capacity as he recovers from a cortisone shot in his shoulder,” MLB insider Chris Kirschner shared.

So, as Boone explained, Volpe isn’t playing in the Boston series because of his shoulder injury. Boone’s hopeful he’ll be ready to return against the Twins afterward. So it’s not accurate to say Volpe was benched just because of his slump. Still, Volpe’s struggle in defense is real, but the young man needs more motivation from the veterans.

Anthony Volpe’s getting enough backing

While it may look like Volpe’s continuous slump will be enough for the MLB veterans and analysts to give up on the young talent, the reality is different. Take the Yankees president Brian Cashman, for example. “He’s had a tough stretch, but yeah, he’s someone that we can count on and we believe in,” Cashman confirmed how the Yankees are seeing Volpe as their future investment, and 2025 is an exception. Now, what could have been better for a young talent to have the backing of the team president despite a slump?

And then there’s CC Sabathia….

When asked about Anthony Volpe’s struggles at shortstop, the Yankees Hall of Famer struck a reassuring tone. “You know what’s crazy? I think it’s like people need to relax.” He said the team needs to give Volpe more time, let him settle in, and not subject him to constant scrutiny. Sabathia also pointed out that Volpe has it especially tough since people keep unfairly comparing him to Derek Jeter.

Not to forget that Volpe was a Gold Globe Award winner in 2023, and thus, his defense ability is proven. Yes, 2025 is going rough for him, but baseball has had a few examples like this. Check with Rafael Devers about how he worked towards reducing his errors in the field and positioning himself as a reliable fielder.

Hopefully, we will get to see a better version of Volpe in the next year. All that fans want to see is for him to replicate his 2023 success.