The New York Yankees have recalled Anthony Volpe from Triple-A in an emergency move: Jazz Chisholm Jr. is heading to the 10-day IL with a sprained right thumb suffered while sliding into second base during Tuesday’s 5-3 win over the Colorado Rockies. Volpe joins the team Thursday, September 10 — and he’s arriving at the hottest stretch of his entire season in the minors.
Why Volpe Is Back Now
Chisholm’s thumb sprain keeps him away from baseball activities for 7 to 10 days — not ideal timing with a four-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays on deck. YES Network’s Jack Curry confirmed the move before Wednesday’s game: «When Jazz Chisholm is placed on the IL, Anthony Volpe will be recalled from AAA. Volpe will join the team tomorrow. Chisholm is still active and will be available to pinch run tonight.» Chisholm did appear Wednesday as a pinch runner.
Manager Aaron Boone said he’s comfortable sliding Volpe into second base when needed. One thing to be clear about: George Lombard Jr. remains the starting shortstop. Volpe isn’t coming back to reclaim that spot — he’s here to fill the hole Chisholm left.
The Numbers That Make This Move Make Sense
Volpe’s 56-game stint with the Yankees this year was a tough one: .240/.325/.332, a .647 OPS, and just one home run. Shoulder surgery over the winter slowed his start, and in August the club optioned him to make room for Lombard Jr. at shortstop.
What happened in Triple-A is a completely different story. In 37 games with the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders, Volpe posted a .906 OPS with 11 home runs. His first week of September was his best stretch of the season: 11-for-21 (.524) with three home runs, six RBI, eight runs scored, and five stolen bases — good enough to earn International League Player of the Week honors for September 1–6. For the month of September alone, he’s hitting .440 with a .533 OBP.
That doesn’t guarantee those numbers travel with him to the Bronx — it’s happened before that he’s dominated the minors and then stalled at the big-league level. But he’s arriving hot, and that matters when the team is in the thick of a pennant race.
How Much Does This Matter for New York’s Stretch Run?
The Yankees entered Wednesday, September 9 at 82-62, sitting in first place in the American League Wild Card race and four games behind the Rays in the AL East. That upcoming series against Tampa Bay could go a long way toward deciding whether New York punches in through the Wild Card window or fights for the division title.
Boone kept his expectations grounded but genuine: «I know he’s been a complete pro and completely got after it down there in everything they’ve thrown at him.» That’s a vote of confidence, not a hype job. Volpe is here to cover a position, not save the season.
This is Volpe’s second callup of the 2026 season — the first came in May when José Caballero suffered a broken finger. Two different situations, two different contexts. What stays the same: Volpe, 25, a 2019 first-round pick, is still searching for the footing at the big-league level that his minor-league numbers have always promised.
