The curler coaster that has been Anthony Volpe on the plate has reached one other valley, although supervisor Aaron Boone believes the uphill climb has begun.
Coming into play Friday, Volpe — who has been streaky by means of his main league profession, vulnerable to red-hot streaks and frigid-cold spurts — had gone 6-for-43 (.140) in his previous 12 video games with 18 strikeouts.
He owned a .908 OPS 12 video games into his season, which had fallen to .680.
“You’re a good series away from being back in that [.800 OPS] neighborhood,” the supervisor stated earlier than the Yankees misplaced, 4-2, to the Blue Jays in The Bronx, throughout which Boone noticed hope from his on a regular basis shortstop.
Volpe completed 1-for-3 with a double, was hit by a pitch, lined to left discipline and had a well-struck, 102.1-mph fly out to pretty deep middle discipline.
The seventh-inning double that one-hopped the wall in proper discipline (after which Volpe got here round to attain the then-game-tying run) was the obvious signal of progress, however Boone was inspired all day.
“I thought he was really good, and I noticed [his swing during batting practice] being a little bit more where it needs to be,” Boone stated.
The Yankees have wanted extra from Volpe, whom the Rays pounded with fastballs up within the zone, and he entered play having swung and missed at 32.2 p.c of the warmers he had seen.
Boone believed Volpe has recognized how he was being attacked and may need added some “tension” to his swing as he tried to get round on excessive fastballs.
“It’s like: Just be athletic and quick and fast and let the ball do the work,” Boone stated earlier than the sport. “Maybe a little muscle-y there through some of the swings.”
Volpe has adopted the identical method he took in final October’s spectacular postseason, his swing velocity seeing an uptick as he has tried to place extra energy behind his swings. By means of the early going, his pop had improved (with 4 homers in first 26 video games) however his contact price has fallen.
“But he’s walking more, hitting the ball hard,” Boone stated. “Got to get a little more contact, but no reason to think that can’t start to happen again.”
Boone gave a brand new look to his lineup, batting Trent Grisham leadoff, shifting Ben Rice to 3rd within the order and bumping Cody Bellinger to fifth.
Grisham, freshly activated off the paternity listing, entered enjoying hitting .320 with a 1.093 OPS earlier than going 0-for-5 with two strikeouts.
Rice went 1-for-5.
Righty Yoendrys Gómez, whom the Yankees designated for project Tuesday, was claimed off waivers by the Dodgers.
Aaron Decide (1-for-4 with a stroll) prolonged his on-base streak in 22 video games.
DJ LeMahieu is anticipated to play Saturday and Sunday with Double-A Somerset after going 3-for-5 in his first two video games of a rehab project.
Boone was undecided what number of video games or at-bats LeMahieu will want earlier than changing into an possibility.
“Let’s get through this week and then kind of see what we want to do next,” Boone stated of LeMahieu, who’s rehabbing a left calf pressure.
Jake Cousins threw a bullpen session that was the “fifth or sixth” time throwing off a mound, the righty stated.
He estimated he’s about two weeks from graduating to dwell batting practices, and a rehab project would observe.
He estimated he might be prepared “early- to mid-June” as he recovers from a flexor pressure.
