Today we continue our Yankees Top-30 Prospects Countdown for the 2020 season with SS Anthony Volpe.
A lifelong Yankees fan and New Jersey product out of Delbarton High School, Anthony Volpe was the Yankees 2019 first round draft pick where he signed to play ball with a $2.74 million bonus. Starting the season with the Pulaski Yankees, Volpe was sent home early after testing positive for mononucleosis which played a factor in some unexciting first season stats. With great overall tools for both sides of the game at bat and in the field, Volpe is a very promising prospect to bet on. Expected to start the season with the Charleston RiverDogs, the 18 year-old is already showing why he was worthy of a first round pick.
(Screenshot From YES Network Video, here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P_dkaFrfSwY)
Anthony Volpe, SS (#9):
Age/Date of Birth: 18 Years Old (04/28/2001)
2019 Team(s): Pulaski Yankees (Rookie Advanced)
2019 MiLB Statistics: .215/.349/.355 (0.704 OPS), 2 HR, 11 RBIs, 23 Walks, 38 Strikeouts (34 Games, 121 At-Bats)
Bats/Throws: Right/Right
Height/Weight: 5’11”/180 Pounds
Acquired: Drafted by the Yankees in the 1st Round (30th) of the 2019 MLB Draft
MLB ETA: 2023
Anthony Volpe Scouting Grades (20-80 Scale):
Power/Hit: 40/55
Run: 55
Field/Arm: 55/50
Overall: 50
What to Know:
Ranked as the #63 prospect coming into the 2019 MLB Draft, the product of New Jersey Anthony Volpe was going to be a tough signing for a team not willing to take him in an early round. With his hard commitment to go to Vanderbilt to continue playing with Delbarton teammate Jack Leiter (who the Yankees drafted in the 20th Round as a flier but he didn’t sign), a team was going to have to make a reach for him to have enough at the pick value to convince him to forego college. With the 30th pick in the draft, the Yankees did just that and even signed him for a good amount above slot value ($2.37 million) with a bonus of $2,740,000.
A day after signing a contract, Volpe began his professional baseball career with the Pulaski Yankees (Rookie Advanced). While he played 34 games and had okay numbers across the board, his season was cut short after a mononucleosis diagnosis had him sent home early. It wouldn’t be a surprise to say his stats probably were hindered because of that, limiting him to a triple-slash of .215/.349/.355 along with 2 Home Runs and a good K:BB rate of 38:23 from such a young player. After signing, Volpe was already ranked 10th in the Yankees system, and even though he missed the final 17 games of the season at Pulaski, his future still holds promising as he moved up to 9th in the preseason rankings.
Overall, Anthony Volpe is believed to develop into a solid hitter and defender in the middle infield. He isn’t expected to ever become a home run hitter as his philosophy seems to be that his job is to get on base, doing so with his gap-to-gap line drive abilities. Though a 25% K rate in his first showing isn’t great, he is expected to add strength and bat speed, which combined with being healthy should see that number get diminished because of his good eye and fundamentals. As a defender, while he possesses an average arm his quick instincts and quick hands allow him to make all the routine plays as he gets the ball out quickly. As a runner he is a threat to steal a base (6 SB to 1 CS in 2019) and knows when to take the extra base when available.
What Will the Future Hold?
Volpe was expected to start the season with the Charleston RiverDogs going into 2020, and should continue to be expected to play at that level once the minor leagues open again. Considering that he is only one year out of High School, already starting to envision him with a full-season Class A team is an incredible testament to his abilities. A move up to the Tampa Tarpons should not be expected, but could have come in a normal season of play. I’d expect a full season with Charleston to be in the cards now given a shortened schedule.
As a prospect, Anthony Volpe is a player who should be pretty consistent with his rankings. He projects to become a solid shortstop at the minor league level as an everyday starter. While he doesn’t have any stand-out tools to lean on, his overall balanced game should work well to continue to help him progress given his great baseball IQ and make-up as a player who truly wants to work and get better.
