3 Yankees peaking at right time as spring training ends

Anthony Volpe, SS

OK, fine. Anthony Volpe's been dominant since Spring Training began, opening eyes by swiping second base on a pitchout against the Blue Jays in Dunedin, then taking third on the very next pitch. He also created a double out of thin air, hustling into second base despite the Blue Jays right fielder pleading with him not to using terrified body language. Sucks to suck.

Technically, the entirety of camp was probably the "right time" for him to peak, considering how much room he had to grow during only a few weeks' time. Volpe's long been an "idea" for many Yankee fans rather than an in-practice superstar. After an otherworldly 2021 season, his .249 average (with 21 homers and 50 stolen bases, but still...) in 2022 turned some casual fans off and led to rivals screaming that he was overrated (despite also never actually seeing him play).

2023's Spring Training performance was more about his raw athleticism that popped off the screen rather than counting numbers, but still, the total package has resulted in Volpe being more emphasized at the end of camp than he was at the beginning. He entered March with almost no chance to start on Opening Day -- service time concerns, Oswald Peraza's experience edge, the shortstop vs. second base conundrum, etc. Now? The service time issue is still real, but he's got a legitimate chance to break camp. At worst, it feels like Volpe'll be up in late April as soon as the service time issues expire. That's how it's done.

Josh Donaldson, 3B

The Yankees' infield logjam features an overload of middle infield options, leading to a difficult decision regarding the usage of both DJ LeMahieu and Gleyber Torres.

That remains an issue because of just how entrenched Josh Donaldson feels at third base, even after a plus-defense, little offense season (94 OPS+ after a 127 mark in 2021, too many called strikes to count last year). The glove should've been golden. The offense didn't merit a starting job for a championship-contending team.

But now, maybe (maybe!) Donaldson is finding his offensive stride at the right time.

It'll take much more than a few puff pieces boasting about how he would've retired if he didn't think he could still hack it to get Yankee fans believing. They passed the point of no return long ago, when Donaldson spent most of the second half looking like Todd Frazier vs. Justin Verlander (after setting the game aflame with his comments directed at Tim Anderson).

If he's going to play, though ... he might as well hit. And he's definitely going to play. Donaldson smacked two home runs in Tuesday's action after shortening his leg kick in a dedicated adjustment aimed at simplifying his swing. Whether it translates to the regular season or not, he's decidedly working on it, rather than resigning himself to cashing checks and struggling as another season goes off the rails.

As Aaron Boone stated Tuesday after Donaldson's strong BP rhythm translated into the game:

To go out and get results in the game is encouraging. He’s capable of that. It’s absolutely still in there. He’s twitchy. He’s strong. He’s got power. He’s just got to get that — he got dinged a little bit last year. He’s just got to know that that’s still in there. Because it is.

We have no choice but to hope he's right.