AL Notes: Volpe Wins Yankee Shortstop Job, Another Starter Shelved During Spring Training

The New York Yankees made the final tweaks to their roster prior to heading north for their season opener against the San Francisco Giants at Yankee Stadium on Thursday, including the decision to start prized rookie prospect Anthony Volpe at shortstop. The 21-year-old was ranked the 7^th-best prospect in baseball according to the Baseball Prospectus after hitting .249 in AA Somerset and AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2022 and proved himself by hitting .314 in Spring Training, beating out fellow rookie Oswald Peraza and veteran Isiah Kiner-Falefa.

“We entered camp with an open competition; we said it publicly and we said it privately,” GM Brian Cashman said. “The obvious exclamation point here is Volpe came into camp and took this position. He should be congratulated. It was well played. He’s earned the right to take that spot for the New York Yankees as we open the 2023 season. We’re excited for him and excited for us.”

Peraza, who hit .306 in 49 at-bats during a September call-up, hit .191 in Spring Training and was demoted to AAA to get regular work, but the Yankees still have high hopes and future plans for the 22-year-old with Kiner-Falefa (who will be a utility player this season) and veteran third baseman Josh Donaldson’s contracts expiring after this season.

The Yankees’ bad luck with their pitching continued on the final weekend in Florida, as the club announced that starter Luis Severino will be placed on the injured list to start the season after suffering a low-grade right lat strain. Severino suffered a similar lat injury last July that saw the 29-year-old righty miss nine weeks, which has the club being extra cautious with other pitchers likely missing the start of the campaign.

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Righty Frankie Montas underwent labrum surgery after off-season rehab failed to improve right shoulder discomfort and the best-case scenario is he be out until the All-Star break. Nestor Cortes was prevented from playing for Team USA in this month’s World Baseball Classic due to a hamstring injury, but the crafty lefty has been working regularly in Tampa and is slated to start during the Yankees season-opening six-game homestand next week.

Free-agent signing Carlos Rodon was shut down with a forearm strain early this month and will start the season on IL, but was encouraged after throwing 30 pitches in a bullpen session on Monday.

Gerrit Cole is slated to pitch on Opening Day against the Giants on Thursday, with righties Clarke Schmidt, Jhony Brito, Domingo German, and Cortes making up the rest of the rotation to start the season.