On Tuesday, Michael Kay reported on a rumor that Anthony Volpe refused to play second base when approached by the Yankees to do so while he was in the minor leagues.
Michael Kay has heard from multiple people that the Yankees asked Anthony Volpe to play some second base in the minors and Volpe said "no, I'm a shortstop"
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 8, 2026
(via @ESPNNewYork) pic.twitter.com/sxUhHhBABm
Volpe was asked about the rumor on Tuesday, and he made it very clear that nothing like that ever happened.
“It definitely caught me off guard. It’s confusing, just because it’s not true. It couldn’t be further from the truth, and from my end, from my perspective, that’s been very clearly communicated to [Aaron Boone] and the team. I think it’s just kind of B.S., honestly,” Volpe said before the Yankees played the Rays on Wednesday, per New York Daily News' Gary Phillips. “I hope my teammates in here — and I’ve played for them for three-plus years — I hope they know my character, and that I’d literally do anything to help the team win, literally anything.
“I feel like I’m defending myself over something that literally didn’t happen.”
Volpe has every right to be upset if the rumor is false and it was spread through Kay and other reliable sources. Earlier on Wednesday, Kay went on X to note that the information he had was wrong and that Volpe never refused to switch positions.
"I spoke of a rumor yesterday on TMKS that Anthony Volpe would not play 2B in the minors," Kay wrote on X. "Sounded unlike him, so I checked further today and there is absolutely no truth to it whatsoever. He never refused to work at second."
Volpe has won a Gold Glove at shortstop, but his defense has declined. When asked if he would be willing to play anything other than shortstop, he left no room for interpretation.
“I still have no problem (playing second)," Volpe said on Wednesday. "I want to be here, and I want to help the team win the World Series. That’s literally all I want. So for anything opposite to be put out there, it’s kind of confusing.
“It’s not true. It’d be one thing if I really felt that way, but I’ve never felt that way.”