José Caballero's Fractured Finger Just Handed Anthony Volpe His Shot, But There's a Catch

The Yankees are calling Anthony Volpe back up to the majors, but don't mistake this for a changing of the guard. Manager Aaron Boone made it crystal clear on Tuesday: José Caballero is keeping the shortstop job the moment he's healthy enough to take it back.

Caballero landed on the 10-day injured list after sustaining a fractured right middle finger diving back into first base during the ninth inning of Sunday's 4-3 loss to the Brewers in Milwaukee. The good news? Boone thinks he might only need the minimum amount of time. "Hopefully it's just the 10 days, but we'll see," Boone said. "The tendon and ligaments are all good. So we don't think it's going to be long."

Caballero's Performance Won Him This Shortstop Gig

Here's why Boone is that confident about Caballero's return: the guy has been elite since arriving in the Bronx. This season, Caballero is slashing .259/.320/.400 with seven doubles, four homers, 13 RBIs and 13 stolen bases in 41 games. Even more impressive, he leads all Major League shortstops with nine defensive runs saved. Boone didn't hold back about what he sees in his shortstop.

"He's played as well as anyone out there," Boone said. "So that would be my expectation." The manager also emphasized Caballero's toughness, noting he fought the IL assignment and has shown he's willing to play through injuries. "He's a gamer, man. He really is. He's played through stuff already this season. He's one of those guys in the room that is really tough."

Volpe Gets His Chance, But It Comes With an Expiration Date

Volpe was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after completing his minor league rehab assignment. The 25-year-old will play shortstop regularly while Caballero heals up, with Max Schuemann getting the start on Tuesday against the Orioles at Camden Yards.

Volpe missed most of spring training recovering from left shoulder surgery performed in October. In his minor league rehab stint, the numbers weren't pretty: 8-for-39 (.205) in nine Triple-A games with one home run, five RBIs and two stolen bases. Adding in a nine-game stint at Double-A Somerset, he finished 15-for-68 (.221) with eight RBIs and four steals. His career slash line in the majors sits at .222/.283/.379 across 472 games.

Still, his teammates are backing him. Aaron Judge had a 30 to 40-minute phone conversation with Volpe, and Jazz Chisholm Jr. also recently spoke with him. "He's built for this," Chisholm said. "It's been tough, being hurt and trying to come back from what he's going through. But he's built for this, and we both think he's going to be great."

As for what happens after Caballero returns, Boone hasn't ruled anything out, but moving Volpe to another position hasn't been discussed yet. For now, it's his chance to prove he belongs. The clock is just ticking.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.