Anthony Volpe could see time at third base as the 2026 season winds down and the Yankees prepare for the postseason. Manager Aaron Boone relayed the idea on the “Talkin’ Yanks” podcast on Wednesday.
“In talking to him, he felt comfortable with it down there [in Triple-A]," Boone said. Volpe experimented with the position while in the Minors from Aug. 4 to Sept. 9. “So yeah, something I’ll probably look at.”
Primarily a shortstop in his career, Volpe has not played third base in the Major Leagues, and he had been filling in at second with Jazz Chisholm Jr. on the injured list. Rookie George Lombard Jr., who had some experience at third in the Minor Leagues, has been the club’s everyday shortstop since his August promotion.
Boone said Lombard will stay at short, while the plan is for Chisholm to remain at second after his return to the lineup on Tuesday. Chisholm has played 74 games at third in his career but none in 2026. Ryan McMahon has handled the bulk of the Yankees’ third base time with Amed Rosario and José Caballero also mixed in.
Impending returns?
With Aaron Judge (right calf strain) possibly out through at least the Wild Card series, Boone offered a trio of significant (and mostly positive) updates on other injured Yankees: Trent Grisham, Giancarlo Stanton and Fernando Cruz.
Grisham (right hamstring strain) and Stanton (left calf strain) are heading to Double-A Somerset on Wednesday to receive live at-bats with the “stay ready group.” Grisham hit the IL on Sept. 5 but had gotten “pretty deep” into a running progression with the hope of contributing in the postseason. Meanwhile, Stanton -- out since April -- has made some progress despite a setback earlier this month that put the rest of his season in jeopardy.
Finally, Cruz threw a bullpen session for the first time since an MRI revealed a partial tear in his right UCL. “He’s doing well,” Boone said. But there is no timeline for his return.