New York Yankees' Promising Rookie Approaching History
On August 13, 2016, Tyler Austin and Aaron Judge hit their first career home runs in consecutive first career at-bats.
Seven years later, with Judge in the dugout as team captain, another rookie went deep for the Yankees, looking to achieve a different milestone.
Anthony Volpe’s two-run home run in the fourth inning was the 16th of his rookie season. It gave the Yankees a 4-1 lead over the Miami Marlins at the time.
Volpe hit his 15th homer earlier in the series, mashing a three-run shot in the opening game. That home run made him the second rookie in Yankees history to hit 15 or more home runs and steal 20 or more bases in a season; he joins second baseman Alfonso Soriano, who achieved the feat in 2001.
The Yankee record for home runs by a rookie shortstop is 20, set by Rookie of the Year winner Tom Tresh in 1962. Volpe needs just four more homers to not only tie the franchise mark, but also to become the first rookie in Yankees history to have a 20-20 season.
The season has seen numerous ups-and-downs for Volpe, whose .211 batting average and 121 strikeouts are indicative of his MLB growing pains.
But his combination of speed, power, and defense fare well for the future of the 22-year old shortstop, who has more long balls this season than fellow shortstops Carlos Correa (15), Trea Turner (12), Xander Bogaerts (12), and Jeremy Peña (10).
Although the Yankees’ season has been difficult to watch, with Volpe’s homer being overshadowed by a devastating ninth-inning collapse, his steadily improving play at least provides hope for the future.
