NEW YORK – In the Bronx, where legends like Derek Jeter and Babe Ruth are etched into the concrete of Yankee Stadium, a new name is making the city wait: Anthony Volpe.
But before he became the official shortstop of the New York Yankees – and the youngest to do so since Jeter – Anthony Volpe was just a kid with a plastic bat on his back lawn, his heart burning with love for the pinstripe.
Born in Watchung, New Jersey, Anthony Volpe didn’t grow up in New York, but “Yankee” was in his blood from a young age. His family – especially his father – were die-hard Yankee fans. Volpe’s room was covered in Yankees posters, and every time Derek Jeter hit a walk-off, young Volpe would scream with excitement.
But no one expected that, just over a decade later, that same boy would be standing in the same place where his idol had once walked on the field.
Not a prodigy born to win. Volpe was smaller than his peers, and was once cut from several youth teams for being “too short, too light.” But he never gave up. Every summer, instead of going on vacation, Volpe chose to practice. He taped a picture of Yankee Stadium to his family’s gym, so that each practice session would be a reminder: “The dream lies behind the pain today.”
Graduating from Delbarton High School with excellent grades, Volpe had a scholarship to Vanderbilt University – but when the Yankees called his name in the first round of the 2019 MLB Draft, he didn’t hesitate.
After a few stellar seasons in the Minor League, Volpe was called up to the Yankees’ first team in 2023, and immediately impressed with his defensive ability, bravery, and fierce fighting spirit.
But with the glory comes pressure. “Jeter’s successor” – that’s the term the media has given him. Some say it’s too soon, others have high hopes. Volpe chooses to be quiet, hard-working and humble – just like Jeter himself.
One of Volpe’s biggest motivations comes from his late grandmother, who took him to his first Yankees game. Before she died of cancer, she told him: “No matter who you play for, don’t forget why you love baseball.”
Volpe always carries her ring in his game backpack. Every time he steps onto the field, he looks up – and smiles.
Anthony Volpe is not “the next Jeter.” He is the first Volpe – a young fighter who is slowly carving out his own journey, from true love to enduring sacrifice.
In an age where baseball is increasingly commercialized, Volpe’s story reminds us that sometimes, the most magical thing is a boy and his dream for his favorite team.