The New York Yankees are not sure who will play shortstop in 2026 for the first time since 2022. Anthony Volpe, who has been their starter for the last three seasons, will start the year on the injured list because he had surgery on his left shoulder’s labrum. The operation marks a turning point for both the player and the team, prompting questions about whether Volpe can finally live up to his potential as a former top prospect.
Dr. Brian Schulz, orthopedic surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Orthopedics and team physician for the Los Angeles Angels, identified a revealing pattern in Volpe’s 2025 season. The evidence lies in the cortisone injections. After his first shot during the All-Star break, Volpe posted a 1.086 OPS with seven home runs in 13 games before collapsing to a .537 OPS over the next 33 games. His second shot on September 10 had the same effects.
After eight games, he had a .923 OPS, but he ended the season with a 7-for-40 slump. “If he had two positive spikes when his shoulder is feeling good, maybe it was bothering him a little bit more than what he was leading on,” Schulz explained.
Because Volpe’s injured shoulder was his lead one when batting, Schulz noted the injury could have altered his approach. “A player could opt to change his swing or approach if he is experiencing pain or is concerned that what he is doing will lead to pain,” Schulz explained Volpe’s changes in June which included closing his stance by 3 degrees and raising the horizontal angle of his swing by 6 degrees.
Volpe ended 2025 with an 83 wRC+, tied for the most errors in the American League with 19, and a career-low 1.0 fWAR, making it the worst season of his career. In June, his bat speed dropped from 72.8 mph to 71.7 mph, and he flattened his swing path. Schulz identified another critical indicator of severity: Volpe’s decision to undergo surgery rather than continue playing through the injury.
“There’s no way of knowing with 100 percent certainty if Volpe’s shoulder was bothering him from May onward, but a telltale sign of the severity of the injury is that he opted for surgery instead of continuing to play through it,” the doctor added.
Now, the New York Yankees have changed their plans for their shortstop in 2026.
José Caballero will start on Opening Day while Volpe heals from surgery. But Schulz thinks Volpe will get better, mentioning that “There’s a high probability” that he will. The bigger question is still up in the air, though: Was Volpe ever healthy?
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The May imaging showed that the tear was there before his diving injury, which means he may have played with it for most of his career. But there are no more excuses now that the surgery is over.
And amid the Volpe concern, the Yankees are dealing with another major rehabilitation timeline for their pitchers.
Clarke Schmidt remains part of the Yankees’ pitching plans
The Yankees are having trouble at shortstop, plus their pitching staff is also changing. Gerrit Cole will be in charge of the 2025 rotation, which will also include Max Fried, Carlos Rodón, Luis Gil, and Cam Schlittler. The lineup looks good, but injuries are a real concern.
That makes Clarke Schmidt’s situation very interesting.
The Yankees are keeping the right-handed pitcher even though they could save money by letting him go. He is recovering from Tommy John surgery and won’t be back until after the All-Star break. Gary Phillips of the New York Daily News said that the team is sticking with Schmidt, who has earned his place as a reliable middle-rotation option and is under contract until 2028.
“Yes, the Yankees could save money by non-tendering the rehabbing righty,” Phillips wrote. “No, they are not expected to do that, as Schmidt has established himself as a solid middle-of-the-rotation pitcher and won’t be a free agent until 2028. If his recovery goes well, he could reinforce the team’s starting staff at an affordable rate in the second half next year.”
The investment is worth it because of Schmidt’s past.
This season, he had a 3.32 ERA in 14 starts. Last season, he had a 2.85 ERA in 16 starts. Schmidt might not be an ace, but he gives you peace of mind when you need it most in the second half of the season.
MLB Doctor Pinpoints Major Concern With Anthony Volpe’s Shoulder After Yankees Drop Clear 2026 Plan
