Derek Jeter Showed His Support For Anthony Volpe Before His Yankees Debut
Last week, Anthony Volpe, a prospect who grew up in New Jersey supporting the Yankees, was competing to make the team’s roster. He will start at shortstop for Opening Day on Thursday, March 30, and one of the greatest players to ever wear pinstripes will congratulate him.
“Congratulations Anthony Volpe,” Derek Jeter wrote on Twitter. “There’s nothing like playing shortstop for the New York Yankees.”
Derek Jeter Showed His Support For Anthony Volpe Before His Yankees Debut
Jeter, of course, had a storied career as a shortstop in New York, winning five World Series and being selected to 14 All-Star teams. When the Yankees shared the video of Volpe being informed that he made the club on Sunday, the first-round pick in the 2019 draught went viral.
Derek Jeter congratulates Anthony Volpe on Twitter. The torch has been passed. pic.twitter.com/PEZnkiaagH
— Yankees Coverage🌴🦁 (@theyankeejungle) March 29, 2023
Manager Aaron Boone can be seen in the video urging Volpe to enter his office while giving him a serious face as though he is about to deliver terrible news. But, Volpe’s response mirrored that of a little child who has just learned that his dream has come true when he informed the 21-year-old he’ll be a Yankee.
MLB call-up videos are the best.
Anthony Volpe is a 21-year-old shortstop from New Jersey that grew up a Yankees fan.
And now he’ll be the youngest player in a Yankees Opening Day lineup since Derek Jeter more than 25 years ago.
Let’s goooooo!!pic.twitter.com/L42cF2BPXo
— Joe Pompliano (@JoePompliano) March 26, 2023
The Yankees selected Volpe in the first round of the 2019 draught, and he received a non-roster invitation to spring training. He was a lifelong North Jersey resident and a Yankees enthusiast.
“I’ve never really had a choice,” he told MLB.com of his Yankees fandom. “It was kind of all or nothing since I could remember. But my parents and grandparents and my whole family are super, big Yankees fans. And I definitely got lucky growing up and being able to go to a couple games and really not having a choice but then falling in love with the team myself.”
Anthony Volpe would be the youngest Yankee to start on Opening Day since Derek Jeter, per @SlangsOnSports pic.twitter.com/nRW9xeAyVD
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) March 24, 2023
He hit.314 with a 1.064 OPS, three home runs, and six doubles in 17 games during spring training.
Volpe will have all the incentive in the world when he makes his major league debut against the Giants on Thursday at 1:05 p.m. ET at Yankee Stadium thanks to Jeter’s newfound backing.
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