Anthony Volpe Is The New Mario Mendoza

Let’s stop sugarcoating it: the Yankees have a Volpe problem. They just don’t want to admit it. It’s time to bench Volpe for Peraza.

Anthony Volpe is hitting a paltry .197. His OPS? A forgettable .703. He’s striking out in nearly 30% of his at-bats. And somehow, some way, he’s still penciled into the lineup every day like he’s earned something. Spoiler alert—he hasn’t.

Meanwhile, Oswald Peraza is sitting in the shadows, glove in hand, waiting for a chance he’s already earned ten times over. He’s a better defensive shortstop, a more consistent presence on the field, and—frankly—he earned his spot. Volpe? His was handed to him.

If the Yankees were truly concerned about having a reliable bat at shortstop, they wouldn’t be trotting out Volpe every day while he flails away at the plate. His offensive struggles aren’t new. This isn’t a slump—it’s his norm. And if this is what the Yankees are calling their “shortstop of the future,” then the future is looking pretty bleak.

And it gets worse. Bat company Victus just dropped the “Anthony Volpe VOLPE1 Custom Pro Reserve.” A custom bat for a player who can’t even crack the Mendoza Line? Remember Mario Mendoza? He turned out to be a bust. Volpe feels the same.  That VOLPE1 bat should be reserved for when he figures out how to make consistent contact, not as a marketing gimmick. It’s embarrassing—for him and for the organization trying to prop him up.

Even Empire Sports Media is calling it like it is:

“Volpe is hitting just .197/.295/.408 over 76 at-bats, including a .703 OPS. His strikeout rate has ballooned to 28.9%, despite sitting in the 80th percentile for chase rate and 83rd percentile for barrel rate.”

Translation? He’s swinging at the right pitches and hitting the ball hard—when he manages to hit it. Which isn’t often.

But manager Aaron Boone keeps backing him like it’s personal. Maybe it is. Boone has long managed more like a buddy than a boss, and Volpe seems to be the latest project getting the “favorite son” treatment. At this point, it’s hurting the team.

Peraza should be starting. Period. He’s the better fielder. He’s shown promise with the bat. And most importantly, he’s earned the opportunity. But the Yankees won’t make the switch because they’ve invested too much in Volpe—the hype, the draft pick, the marketing, the storyline.

Well, here’s a storyline: the Yankees are letting pride get in the way of performance.

Volpe isn’t getting the job done, and Peraza continues to pay the price for it. If New York is serious about contending, they need to stop managing based on hype and start managing based on results. Sit Volpe. Start Peraza. Enough excuses.

Because the truth is simple: Volpe’s not hitting, and he’s not fielding better than the guy behind him.

So, what are we even doing here?