Aaron Boone confirmed Yankees ruined Anthony Volpe's development via surgery timeline

Whether Anthony Volpe's popping shoulder was a death sentence for his 2025 season or merely a contributing factor to his immense struggles, we can all agree it certainly didn't help matters. When Volpe dove against the Rays and came up sore, it began a cycle of mind-numbing swings and defensive deficiencies, only briefly interrupted after cortisone shots after the All-Star break and at the end of the season.

Fans suspected from the start that he'd need surgery on his non-throwing shoulder, and the Yankees confirmed the procedure once the ALDS wrapped (of course, exactly a month after Brian Cashman said Volpe wouldn't need surgery). On Thursday at Aaron Boone's end-of-season press conference, we learned more about it, though, confirming the Yankees were at fault for the way things spiraled.

Boone noted that Volpe will return to hitting in four months, but won't be allowed to dive until the six-month mark. That essentially means he can't start the season as the shortstop; if he can't dive until mid-April, he probably should not play. A minor-league rehab assignment will probably be his next stop as an active player.

The Yankees manager insisted that Volpe will be "right in the mix" to start next season, but stopped short of committing in full, partially because the injury is now preventing that from being a possibility. The 2025 downturn may not be able to be ascribed fully to Volpe's shoulder issues, but his slide down the depth chart sure can be.

Yankees' Anthony Volpe will miss the start of 2026 season after shoulder surgery

The Yankees didn't address it in-season, leaving him unavailable for the start of next season. Jose Caballero, and potentially other external options, will usurp him by default. In the meantime, the Yankees exposed him to months of verbal abuse, warping his mental game as his offense (and defense!) receded.

Volpe did show a few positive metrics this summer (somehow). His swing speed improved. It's also tough to ascribe his defensive skittishness and decreasing range to a sore shoulder. But it's all interconnected. The more fans despise you, the less likely you are to perform well in front of them, especially if you're nursing something in secret.

Boone insists he doesn't regret playing Volpe through the injury, claiming it didn't have much of an impact on his performance. It's possible it didn't directly affect his swing, but it did tack four months of mindset regression onto his MLB career, and took away a crucial offseason of development from him before Year 4.

His days as the Yankees' starter may be - should be - over by default. He can blame himself, sure, but now can include the Yankees' mismanagement as a formal co-defendant when his career's on trial.