Anthony Volpe grew up watching Derek Jeter star at shortstop for the New York Yankees.
Now, the 21-year-old is getting his chance to be the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants.
The team announced on Sunday after a 6-2 spring training victory over Toronto that Volpe had won the spot.
New York manager Aaron Boone called Child into his office to deliver the news.
“My heart was beating very hard,” said Volpe, one of baseball’s best prospects. “Unbelievable. I’m so excited. It’s hard for me to even put it into words.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman, hitting coach Dillon Lawson, and bench coach Carlos Mendoza were also present.
Volpe was able to share the news with his parents and other family members near the Yankees’ dugout and said it was something he would never forget.
“It was very emotional,” Volpe said. “It was just an incredible moment to share it with him.”
Volpe, who was a Yankees fan, lived in Manhattan as a child before moving to New Jersey. Jeter was his favorite player.
“It’s very surreal,” Volpe said. “I’ve only been to games at Yankee Stadium and for the most part have only seen him play there.”
Volpe is hitting .314 with three homers, five RBI, and a .417 on-base percentage in 17 Grapefruit League games. He has only 22 games of experience in Triple-A.
Spring training began with Volpe, Oswald Peraza, and holdover Isiah Kiner-Falefa competing for the everyday shortstop job. Kenner-Falefa was shifted into a utility role in the middle of the camp.
Boone said of Volpe, “Certainly the performance was there, but he killed it between the lines.” “Everything else that we’ve been hearing about showed up. There is an energy with which he plays the game, and an instinct that he possesses that is evident. He really checked every box we could have for him. Absolutely kicked in the door and earned his opportunity.
Volpe arrived in Florida in December to work at the Yankees’ minor league complex.
“He’s earned the right to take that spot, and we’re excited for him and excited for us,” Cashman said. “He dominated on all sides of the ball through February and March, and that clearly bodes well for him as we go forward.”
Volpe was selected out of high school with the 30th overall pick in the 2019 draft from Delbarton School in New Jersey. He passed on a college commitment to Vanderbilt to sign with the Yankees.
“This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join the organization,” Volpe said. “This day, this feeling, this moment was the kind of thing I’ve worked for my whole life when I made that big decision.”
“It’s crazy right now,” he said. “I don’t even know what’s going to happen next but on Thursday I just want to go out and play and have fun.”