Spencer Jones' promotion highlights possible uncomfortable Yankees-Anthony Volpe problem

The New York Yankees made the smart decision to option Anthony Volpe to Triple-A after his rehab assignment concluded. He simply wasn't ready for MLB action and Jose Caballero has been playing incredibly well.

Though it's only been a few days since the Yankees' headline-grabbing move, it's looking like Volpe could already be fading further and further into the background. This week alone, a baserunning gaffe and an error on a routine play had social media losing its mind.

But there's an even more notable talking point worth addressing. It's all related, but Volpe's overall unimpressive play is only part of the equation here. His .234 average and .604 OPS were never going to do him any favors, and everybody is understanding that his recovery from shoulder surgery won't yield immediate offensive results.

That said, he's at Triple-A and just watched Spencer Jones get promoted to the MLB roster after the Yankees lost Jasson Dominguez to injury. That could very well have been Volpe's spot had he been performing better, even if the Yankees needed an outfielder over an infielder. Remember, both Caballero and Amed Rosario can play the outfield, so the Yanks could've easily shifted their thought process.

The plan was always for Volpe to probably get at least a few more weeks of reps before re-considering his promotion, but it's certainly awkward to see a prospect whose lost a lot of his luster get the bump before Volpe (even though it was the right decision).

At this rate, could George Lombard Jr. get promoted to Yankees before Anthony Volpe?

And what if Lombard emerges and gets the next promotion whenever that time comes? It might not be soon since he's hitting just .194 with a .625 OPS since getting the call to Triple-A (44 plate appearances), but let's not forget his ceiling is offiicially higher than Volpe on both ends of the ball.

Lombard Jr. can play second base, shortstop and third base at a high level. Volpe definitely has the slug advantage over the Yankees' No. 1 prospect, but Lombard is four years younger and is still finding himself offensively. He displayed some impressive power during spring training. It'll all be about consistency and quality of contact for Lombard Jr.

Lombard Jr. already might have the better eye at the plate after the strides he's made the last calendar year. He has a .410 on-base percentage on the season and has cut back on his strikeouts in the early going. He's currently adjusting after a promotion from Double-A, but what happens if he starts lighting it up like he was just a few weeks ago at Somerset? Does that force an uncomfortable discussion among those in the front office?

Volpe still has plenty of runway in front of him and an opportunity to reclaim his position if he can find a rhythm alongside a potential Caballero backslide. The Yankees are also one injury away from re-calling Volpe to help out at the MLB level.

But if things remain static with the roster, Volpe continues to tread water, and Lombard takes another step forward? We could be talking about the beginning of the end for the Yankees' starting shortstop from 2023-2025.

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