​Michael Kay, a longtime New York Yankees play-by-play broadcaster for the Yes Network, walked back his earlier remarks about embattled infielder Anthony Volpe on his ESPN New York radio show, a development Volpe called “just kind of BS.” On Tuesday, Kay claimed on the program that anonymous sources had told him Volpe refused to play second base while in the minors this year, including a notable report that Volpe told the team, “No, I’m a shortstop.”
By Wednesday, Kay posted a clarification on X debunking the rumor he had discussed. During an on-air segment that afternoon, he also recanted his previous statement, according to The Athletic. “I had two people tell me, and I heard rumors,” Kay told reporters at Tropicana Field on Wednesday, amid the Yankees’ four-game road series against the Tampa Bay Rays. “I was wrong. Somebody called me [on Wednesday] and said that’s not right. I made further calls, and they said no, that he had never refused to play second base. I retracted. I plan to talk to him and apologize. I feel bad. I wouldn’t want to put him in the crosshairs.”
Volpe expressed that he was “definitely caught off guard” when he learned of the report on Tuesday, noting that it was not true and describing how it conflicted with his approach. He recalled a conversation with Yankees manager Aaron Boone during the 2026 season in which he emphasized his willingness to play anywhere on the field, even catcher. “I hope my teammates in here — 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,” Volpe said, per The Athletic. “I think the narrative and what it tries to say about me — I feel like I am defending myself over something that literally didn’t happen.”
Volpe is in his fourth season with the Yankees, who drafted him in the first round in 2019 after a standout high school career in New Jersey and a dramatic Opening Day debut in 2023. Now 25, Volpe has faced mounting scrutiny from a fan base that has grown impatient with his offensive output. While he immediately earned a Gold Glove, his offensive numbers have not yet met the high expectations that accompanied his arrival in the majors, as evidenced by a career batting average of .224 through 514 games.
The Yankees optioned Volpe to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in May after a 20-day rehab window used to recover from offseason shoulder surgery, opting to keep José Caballero at shortstop. Soon after, the team recalled Volpe and placed Caballero on the 10-day injured list with a right-hand middle finger fracture. Caballero eventually returned to the lineup, but the injury‑plagued Yankees have continued to cope with challenges on both sides of the field, underscoring the volatility of a season that has tested the team’s depth and its young core.