SAN DIEGO — DJ LeMahieu, who Aaron Boone had originally hoped to be his leadoff man this year, is finally about to make his season debut.
But Anthony Volpe and his 19-game hitting streak aren’t moving anywhere.
Having entrenched himself at the top of the order for a lineup that has been clicking, Volpe is expected to remain in the leadoff spot once LeMahieu returns on Tuesday when the Yankees open a series against the Angels.
In Sunday’s 5-2 loss to the Padres, Volpe went 1-for-3 with a walk to extend his hitting streak to 19 games, matching the Yankees’ longest since Derek Jeter’s 19-gamer in 2012.
“Just a continuing, evolving, outstanding player that’s hungry, had the ability to make adjustments and just on [base] a lot in front of some great, great hitters,” manager Aaron Boone said. “That’s crucial and been a driving force for our offense.”
Volpe moved into the leadoff spot for a scuffling Gleyber Torres in the Yankees’ 13th game of the season and has been there ever since.
The second-year shortstop had started off the season red-hot, batting .382 with a 1.041 OPS through his first 15 games.
Then, over his next 21 games, Volpe hit just .165 with a .515 OPS as opposing pitchers made an adjustment to him.
But Volpe has answered back, entering Sunday batting .343 with a .914 OPS over his last 17 games, coinciding with his hitting streak.
Yankees on Tuesday. Getty Images
“Great aptitude,” Boone said. “I think that’s one thing that’s really stood out to me about him. Obviously a very talented player, young player. But the aptitude he has to be able to take what you learn — good, bad, struggles, successes — and to be able to continue to make those adjustments, those are separators from average to good and good to great players. He has all those intangible qualities.”
Volpe joined Joe DiMaggio as just the second Yankee to record a hitting streak of at least 19 games at the age of 23 or younger. DiMaggio had streaks of 22 and 20 during the 1937 season.
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More importantly, Volpe has done a strong job of setting the table in front of Juan Soto and Aaron Judge.
“Just getting one hit in a baseball game is hard with the type of guys we’re facing,” Judge said. “But he’s the type of kid that he keeps his head down, he shows up, works. I don’t think he really cares about a hitting streak or not, he’s more focused on trying to touch first base so he can see Juan do his thing behind him. It’s been fun to watch.”
