Revamped Anthony Volpe swing could actually get Yankees fans excited about his return

Anthony Volpe is currently making his way back from shoulder surgery and began his rehab assignment last week with Double-A Somerset. The New York Yankees expect him back when he's gotten an equivalent of a full spring training's worth of work in. So, probably by mid-May.

On the whole, Yankees fans haven't thought much about Volpe. Jose Caballero, despite some early struggles, remains a breath of fresh air because of his differentiating player profile (nine stolen bases in 21 games) and unique type of energy. Though it's obvious he's not the full-time shortstop option for the Yanks, fans definitely appreciate his efforts and abilities more than what Volpe brought from 2023-2025.

But could a change in Volpe's approach alter the perception? It appears as if the young slugger re-worked his swing following the shoulder procedure and he's looking like a different player at the plate.

Though he's yet to record an extra-base hit, he's batting .364 with a .781 OPS in his first four rehab games, which include an impressive single off Phillies ace Zack Wheeler. We're not going to deny how blatant the Yankees' Propaganda Machine has been with Volpe (posting clips of him fielding routine popups and allowing him to travel with the Yankees despite the fact he isn't on the team right now), but we're also not going to ignore what's right in front of our face.

This is, objectively, a much simpler and effective approach for Volpe, who has far too long dealt with complicated mechanics that plagued his ability to find consistency.

Anthony Volpe's new swing could change complexion of Yankees 2026 lineup

This type of development absolutely jumps off the screen for a multitude of reasons. Firstly, Volpe's quotes about returning to the team have been giant, silly word salads prepped by Yankees PR. Fans can't stand that. Secondly, the defense still remains a concern as his arm strength and ability to make routine plays in the clutch have come into question. Not to mention, we've been tricked before by new swing mechanics. Remember the whole chicken parm thing with Austin Wells?

But this is the most aggressive change to his approach yet. The swing is way more compact. The leg lift isn't nearly as drastic. The path of the bat is much more level, allowing him to get on top of pitches up in the zone. If that takes away some of his power, it won't matter. The Yankees don't need him to hit home runs. They need him to be a halfway respectable hitter.

From 2023-2025, Volpe's messy offensive game featured an incredibly long swing, a massive leg kick, and a bat path that can only be described as a flailing uppercut. He was swinging under middle-middle fastballs. It made no sense. He had his moments (like many major leaguers do when they are given almost 500 games of run in their first three seasons), but the end result was a .222 batting average, .662 OPS and 83 OPS+. He struck out 473 times. Much of his offensive production felt hollow, as it was the classic case of the Yankees front office valuing the compilation of statistics devoid of context. He went 20-20 his rookie season, and it felt like that's what the organization clung to the last two years.

At this point, however, almost everyone can acknowledge 2026 is a "last chance" of sorts for Volpe. No, he won't be cut in 2027 if things don't go well this year. He probably won't be traded, either. But it'd be incredibly difficult for the team to sign off on a fifth year of full-time shortstop duties during Aaron Judge's prime if the results remain the same.

That's why a potential career-altering swing adjustment deserves attention in the weeks leading up to Volpe's return. This discourse has long been sour, so perhaps it's time we eye some notable positives that could improve a Yankees team that is a few tweaks away from being a true World Series contender.

Volpe hitting .260 with a .700 OPS at the bottom of the lineup would be a massive shift for the offense. So if the Yankees are confident there's a turnaround on the horizon, Brian Cashman better get his desired bullpen targets lined up between now and the trade deadline.

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