Aaron Boone gives Anthony Volpe timeline as Yankees prepare for shortstop's return

New York Yankees fans have been subjected to odd coverage of Anthony Volpe as he continues his rehab assignment following offseason shoulder surgery. We were fed clips of the shortstop fielding a soft grounder and catching a weak pop-up. To be honest, we'll need more than that.

And we're not too far away from getting it. Volpe is approximately 10 to 14 days away from returning to the majors, according to a new update from Yankees manager Aaron Boone.

In speaking on Foul Territory on Wednesday, Boone also said that Volpe is fully healthy right now and has had "zero issues" with his shoulder during his months-long buildup.

Anthony Volpe has been raking in minor league rehab games for Yankees

Entering Thursday, Volpe had played four games in Double-A and two games in Triple-A during his ongoing rehab stint, tallying a .333/.368/.500 line across both levels. Volpe homered on Tuesday in his first Triple-A appearance for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Volpe underwent shoulder surgery in October to repair a partially torn left labrum. Directly following the Yankees' 2025 campaign, in which Volpe struggled mightily at the plate with a .212 batting average in 153 games, the Yankees announced that Volpe would have surgery to fix an issue he'd been dealing with during the season.

Boone's latest update that Volpe is fully healthy checks out with the youngster's upbeat demeanor of late during interviews and, on rare occasions, in the Yankees' clubhouse. He's also been on a steady diet of live at-bats since spring training, as alluded to by Boone, which wouldn't make sense for a player who is still dealing with shoulder pain.

What does Anthony Volpe's imminent return mean for José Caballero's Yankees role?

When Volpe returns to MLB action, it's widely assumed that he'll be re-inserted as New York's starting shortstop, replacing José Caballero. Brian Cashman said earlier in the month that it's "always been the plan" for Volpe to reclaim the starting job upon his return, but that it's ultimately up to Boone.

Naturally, fans of Caballero and Volpe's detractors aren't thrilled. Caballero brings a unique energy to the Yankees that will be missed if he's demoted from an everyday role. Caballero hasn't wowed with his bat so far this year (.238/.282/.325, 22 strikeouts), but he's delivered some clutch hits and continues to show he's unafraid of the big moment.

Now, Caballero will likely get pushed into a utility/bench role that will give Boone another righty bat/versatile infielder alongside Amed Rosario.

José Caballero and Anthony Volpe share a common "enemy"

Both Caballero and Volpe have no doubt been looking over their shoulders at the rise of George Lombard Jr., who is getting closer and closer to MLB-readiness. The Yankees' No. 1 overall prospect is already prepared to handle defensive duties in the Show, and his bat has been on fire to begin the 2026 season.

The Caballero-Volpe battle might ironically come to an end at some point not because one guy out-jousts the other, but because Lombard surges past both. That still feels at least a calendar year away from happening, but injuries or a surprisingly terrible return from Volpe could shift the situation into more interesting waters this season.

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