After an extended run as the everyday shortstop, the New York Yankees demoted Anthony Volpe to Triple-A on Aug. 4.
Volpe started the year on the injured list, but upon returning, his offense was still an issue. His batting average was .240, an improvement from last year, but his OPS was below .700. Last season, his OPS was also below .700, but he had 19 home runs. This year, he had one through 56 games.
Well, since being sent to Triple-A, Volpe has found his power stroke again. He has 10 home runs in his last 26 games, and five in his last five.
"He became Barry Bonds all of a sudden, hitting a homer every day,” Jasson Domínguez said after Saturday's game, per the New York Post's Greg Joyce. “It’s crazy."
Volpe has a 2.527 OPS in his last five games. He has eight home runs in his past 14 games and is trying to earn his way back on the big league team. Volpe has also been playing at second base and shortstop, in an attempt to improve his defensive versatility.
The Yankees need Volpe to figure things out at the plate. If they lose Jazz Chisholm Jr. in free agency, there's a real chance Volpe could be the starting second baseman, with George Lombard Jr. at shortstop.
“He’s working his (expletive) off to get better, and you can see it every day, I’m telling you,” said Domínguez. “I feel like the last two weeks, he’s hit a homer every day.”