​ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Anthony Volpe is unsure of where the rumor originated about him declining a shift to second base while he was rehabbing from shoulder surgery in the minors earlier this season. What he does know is that the report is not only false, but that the Yankees never asked him to move to second base. “Before I got optioned to Triple-A on May 3, I told Aaron Boone I’d play catcher, I’d do literally anything the team needed, and that’s the truth,” Volpe said before Wednesday’s game against the Rays at Tropicana Field. “When I was getting ready to come back after surgery, when I could only start hitting, I was asking every night what was expected of me. What was told to me was to get ready to come back and play short. So for the opposite to be put out there, it’s just confusing. I’ve never, ever felt that way.”
The rumor traces back to Tuesday’s episode of the Michael Kay Show. Citing a rumor he had heard, Kay reported that Volpe had turned down a request to play second for the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders. Kay subsequently walked back his claim on social media and reiterated the correction to reporters at the Trop Thursday afternoon.
“I got it wrong, and either today or tomorrow I’m going to apologize to Anthony,” Kay said. “I feel badly.” Kay did not stop at a simple retraction; he went a step further in defending Volpe, who has faced scrutiny as a local standout during his three-plus years with the Yankees. “If you don’t perform in this market, people are going to jump you,” Kay said. “It’s just unusual that a local kid, maybe he’d get a little more grace, but that hasn’t been the case. I definitely sense it on my radio show.”
Volpe emphasized that the nature of the sport’s spotlight can bring with it harsh criticism, but he remains focused on his responsibilities to the team. He noted that during spring and into the season he did his best to communicate clearly with management about what his role might be, and he reported that the instruction from the organization was consistent: prepare to be ready to play shortstop upon his return to the big leagues.
This episode adds another chapter to the conversations surrounding Volpe, a player whose performance has been closely watched since he arrived in the majors. While rumors can travel quickly and take on a life of their own, Volpe’s insistence on the veracity of his own statements—paired with Kay’s corrective stance—highlights the volatile intersection of media narratives, fan expectations, and a club’s internal plans during a season that has already tested the team’s depth and adaptability.
As the Yankees navigate a season with its own share of pressure and scrutiny, Volpe’s clear message remains: there was never a request for him to switch positions, and the reported story about him turning down a second-base assignment is inaccurate. He stressed that his focus has been on contributing where the team needs him, whether that’s at shortstop or any other role he might be asked to fill as he works his way back from surgery and helps the team compete at a high level.
In the end, what mattered most to Volpe was correcting the record and reaffirming his commitment to the Yankees and to his own development as a player. The episode underscored how quickly rumors can spread and how important it is for players and outlets to pursue clarity, especially when the stakes involve a young talent’s reputation and a franchise’s broader strategic moves. As Volpe continues his journey with the Yankees, the emphasis remains on preparation, performance, and a clear line of communication between the player and the organization, free from misleading reports or mischaracterizations that can cloud a season’s progress.