Yankees shift Anthony Volpe rehab back to Somerset, nearing return

The Yankees moved Anthony Volpe’s rehab assignment back to Double-A Somerset on April 28, a switch that looks more like final setup than a setback. Volpe is working back from offseason surgery on his left shoulder to repair a partially torn labrum, and the club has already lined up Somerset for April 28-29. MLB.com reported he could be activated as soon as May 1, though no decision had been made.

For Triple-A eyes, the bigger read is simple: the Yankees are narrowing the runway. Volpe got one game at Scranton/Wilkes-Barre after being promoted there on April 22, and he made it count, going 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored. Through eight rehab games entering April 28, he was 8-for-26, a .308 clip that says the bat is tracking, not just surviving. Sending him back to Somerset after that one RailRiders stop suggests New York may want a controlled environment, a familiar backdrop, or just a cleaner schedule to finish the job before the activation call.

That fits the timeline the Yankees have been carrying all along. Volpe started the rehab assignment at Somerset on April 14, played four games there, then got the Triple-A look. Brian Cashman said the goal is for Volpe to reach about 55 plate appearances before returning as the big league starting shortstop, which puts the emphasis on reps more than classification. In that light, the level change matters less than the count of swings, baserunning and day-to-day readiness. Somerset is the stop that gets him closer to the finish line; Triple-A was the bridge, not necessarily the destination.

José Caballero has handled shortstop most often in Volpe’s absence, batting .222 with one home run and eight stolen bases. That gives the Yankees enough coverage to be patient, but not enough reason to drag this out if Volpe checks the final boxes. The Patriots also made clear this was a homecoming as much as a rehab stop. Volpe grew up in Watchung, attended Delbarton High School in Morristown, and Somerset said he was back with the club for the first time in 1,347 days. He played 110 games for Somerset in 2022, hit .251 with 18 home runs and 44 stolen bases, then won a Gold Glove in 2023 and became the first rookie in Yankees history to reach 20 home runs and 20 steals. The next step, if everything holds, is likely the Bronx, not another long stay in the minors.