Yankees move Anthony Volpe out of leadoff spot
Yankees' Anthony Volpe reacts after striking out against Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (34) in the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, April 23, 2023. Credit: AP/John Minchillo
Anthony Volpe’s reign as the Yankees’ leadoff hitter may have come to an end.
Volpe was in the seventh spot in the order Friday as the Yankees hosted the Rays. It’s the first time the rookie shortstop, who moved into the No. 1 spot seemingly for good on April 16, has started a game anywhere other than first or ninth.
Volpe homered in the fifth to tie the score at 2-2 and singled home a run in the seventh Friday night as the Yankees beat the Rays, 6-5.
Volpe, who went into Friday batting .199 with a .292 on-base percentage, hit ninth in his first 10 games and first in 25 of his next 27. Manager Aaron Boone said Volpe, who hit his first grand slam on Wednesday, might be heading back up — or down — in future lineups.
“Just with getting some more guys back in the mix, it’s something I considered,” Boone said. “I think the at-bat quality has remained there with Anthony. [He] could end up back there, or as we get more guys back, [he] could end up at the bottom again.”
Gleyber Torres led off on Friday.
Trainer’s room
Luis Severino (lat strain) will make his second rehab start on Tuesday for Double-A Somerset. Aaron Hicks (sore hip) continued to avoid the injured list. Boone said Hicks is “feeling pretty good” but added that he didn’t know if he felt good enough to be available off the bench on Friday.
Rasmussen injured
Tampa Bay righthander Drew Rasmussen, who shut out the Yankees on two singles over seven innings on Thursday, was placed on the 60-day injured list on Friday with a flexor strain in his forearm.
That injury often is a precursor to Tommy John surgery, but the Rays plan to shut down Rasmussen for two months in hopes he can avoid surgery and come back in August.
Rasmussen has been a Yankee-killer: In four outings (three starts), he has not allowed a run in 21 innings.
Anthony Rieber covers baseball, as well as the NFL, NBA and NHL. He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since July 5, 2004.
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