Former Yankees Hitting Coach Destroys A-Rod's Critique of Anthony Volpe
After winning a Gold Glove as a rookie in 2023, then taking a step forward at the plate in 2024, New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe is having his worst season in the big leagues at age 24.
Through Wednesday, Volpe was hitting .214 with a .286 on-base percentage and .400 slugging percentage. That adds up to a .686 OPS (90 OPS+). Both Yankees manager Aaron Boone and general manager Brian Cashman have publicly defended him, but there have been no shortage of suggestions about how to "fix" Volpe.
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One of the more interesting suggestions came from former Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez.
"With his great legs, my job would be, 'I don't want to hit home runs, I want to hit low line drives, hit ground balls all over the place, force the defense to make errors, become an incredible bunter'," Rodriguez told Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay. "I make the argument, if he hit 30 home runs, it could be bad for him because he might hit .160."
ICYMI on The Michael Kay Show:@RealMichaelKay gives his thoughts on the Anthony Volpe criticism. pic.twitter.com/mH1FjSwuzA — ESPN New York (@ESPNNewYork) June 20, 2025
Rodriguez hit 696 home runs in his career, but rarely bunted in 22 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and Yankees from 1994-2016.
Alex Rodriguez bunted once in 330 postseason plate appearances https://t.co/lPQMG8WHT3 — Baseball Reference (@baseball_ref) September 30, 2020
Although that does not necessarily disqualify him from offering his oft-repeated (and oft-mocked) thoughts about laying down a bunt, Rodriguez has never spent a day in a formal capacity as a major league hitting coach.
Alex Rodriguez walks the blue carpet at JAY-Z's Iconic The 40/40 Club in partnership with Fanatics Sportsbook at the center of Fanatics Fest NYC at Javits Center on June 20, 2025 in New York City.
Alex Rodriguez walks the blue carpet at JAY-Z's Iconic The 40/40 Club in partnership with Fanatics Sportsbook at the center of Fanatics Fest NYC at Javits Center on June 20, 2025 in New York City.for Fanatics
Sean Casey has; he was brought in as a midseason replacement two years ago by the Yankees and finished the 2023 season as their hitting coach. And, based on what he's seen from Volpe, he recommended the opposite of a drastic adjustment.
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"If you go watch the two home runs he hit (Saturday in Atlanta), he was really flat," Casey said of Volpe on his podcast, The Mayor's Office. "Sometimes he loads on his legs, and when he loads he loads down. When you load down, you have nothing to do but come up. What are these guys in the big leagues trying to do? They're trying to hit upper-rail. So if I'm loading down, I'm coming up and out. As opposed to staying into that hip."
"I think Volpe's going to be fine," Casey continued. "I think Volpe's going to get hot, to tell you the truth. And he's on pace for 18 bombs, 80 RBIs. He has (54) RBIs. Isn't the job in baseball to score more runs than the other team. You want guys that drive in runs. I've got a shortstop that's got (54) RBIs, and we still have a second half to play? And he's on pace for 18 to 20 homers, and he's going to play Gold Glove shortstop? I'm going to take that."
Rather than becoming a slap-hitting bunter, Casey is recommending that Volpe maintain his identity as a shortstop with some pop. If nothing else, it's sound advice for Volpe if he wants to prolong his career in MLB. Few "incredible bunters" maintain long employment in the league anymore.
The patient approach isn't always the easy one — for players or for fans — but Casey is someone who ought to know what works best. The Yankees actually paid him do it not long ago, when Volpe was still breaking into the league.
For more MLB news, visit Newsweek Sports.
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