Anthony Volpe Awarded Gold Glove for Rookie Season

The Yankees had a “forgettable” season after missing the playoffs for the first time since 2016. The 82-80 team performed well below expectations and struggled to hit the ball throughout the season, including Volpe, who batted .209/.283/.383. Aside from his struggles on offense, the 22-year-old shortstop does shine a glimmer of hope for the future. Volpe contributed the first 20 HR & 20 steal season for a rookie in Yankees history and has etched his name in the history books with his defense.

The Yankees shortstop was named an American League Gold Glove winner on Sunday night, becoming the first rookie in franchise history to take home the award per MLB.com.

Volpe beat out veteran stars in Corey Seager and Carlos Correa for the AL award.

Dansby Swanson won the NL award at shortstop, and Francisco Lindor was a finalist.

Volpe had been a childhood fan of the Yankees before being drafted to the team in the first round, with the 30th overall selection of the 2019 MLB draft. Volpe quickly worked his way atop the prospect list within the organization, and the writing was on the wall for him to become a key challenger for the role during the 2022 season. On March 26, 2023, Volpe was named the Yankees’ starting shortstop during spring training, beating out fellow prospect Oswald Peraza and 2022’s starting shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa. See the moment he learns he has been promoted to the major league roster below:

Aaron Boone is known for sticking by his players, which was true for Volpe throughout the 2023 season. “I think he’s got a real chance to win the Gold Glove,” manager Aaron Boone said on the final day of the regular season. “To do that at shortstop, at a premium position like that, is huge.”

Joining his childhood idol, Derek Jeter, Volpe is the 2nd Yankee shortstop to win the award. Volpe also became the youngest shortstop to win the honor, surpassing Alan Trammell in 1980, per Baseball Reference.

He did commit 17 errors, but his other metrics seem to have outweighed these. Volpe finished second among AL shortstops with 15 Defensive Runs Saved, tied for sixth with 1 OAA, and finished the season with a UZR of 2.9 per FanGraphs. Volpe showed great instincts.

USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con

“Honestly, whereas I thought he would be able to handle shortstop, I guess that’s where he’s impressed me the most,” Boone stated late in the season. “I don’t know that I expected him to be this good at the position this early. All the little nuance things, the routine, he’s just really, really good at.”

“He plays the position so fast and with great energy but without being out of control. That’s why I think he’s done a great job with the routine play. But because he plays the game so fast and with intensity, he’s got great range, and he uses his feet well to cut down angles to allow himself to make difficult plays without doing it with a great arm.”