ESPN insider predicts when Anthony Volpe will make Yankees debut

New York Yankees No. 1 prospect Anthony Volpe has dominated the team's spring narrative since the second he turned a single into right into a hustle double in Dunedin -- if not before.

Once the calendar turned to 2023, the question, "WHEN WILL WE SEE VOLPE?" has borderline blared from the Yankee Stadium rafters, and Brian Cashman, Aaron Boone and Co. haven't done much to quiet it. Every time they're asked, New York's braintrust declares their shortstop capital-S Special, and acknowledges he might just make it onto the Opening Day roster, even though we all know that's not happening.

The most optimistic possible prediction for Volpe's debut on the big stage feels Gleyber Torres-esque. In 2018, New York kept their top kid down in the minors for service time reasons, but promoted him before the end of April when injury concerns hit and it looked like the Red Sox might run away and hide in the AL East (something they somehow did, despite the Yankees winning 100 games).

Service time (and Oswald Peraza's existence) will keep Volpe down for the time being, but the consensus is beginning to grow that we could see him in the majors in 2023, especially with every sparkling dive and stolen base.

ESPN's Kiley McDaniel predicted Volpe's arrival date this week, and he suspects it will be upon us in mid-summer.

Yankees top prospect Anthony Volpe slated for summer 2023 MLB debut

While everyone and their mother wants Volpe elevated ASAP, that move would almost certainly come with Torres' departure rather than Josh Donaldson's. That sounds unnecessary; Torres is still just 26 years old and ready to contribute right now. Sacrificing his offense while maintaining Donaldson's would be a negative, but it's also almost certainly what would happen.

Plus, it's completely understandable that the Yankees would like Volpe to find his bearings at Triple-A, considering his first two months at Double-A Somerset last year didn't quite go according to plan.

The New Jersey native played just 22 Triple-A games at the end of last season, hitting .231 with a .717 OPS and three homers. Flashes of greatness, sure, but the Bombers would like to see more, and 40-50 games could be enough to get their prize back on track.

As difficult as the infield squeeze looks at the moment (Peraza, Torres, IKF, Donaldson, DJ LeMahieu, Oswaldo Cabrera), these things tend to sort themselves out with injuries, trade opportunities, and other types of Donaldson-specific malfeasance. Hopefully, at the end of the process, it's Volpe who survives and stands alone in a position to succeed.