The biggest question for the 2022 AL East Champion New York Yankees heading into this season is: who will be their starting shortstop?
Since The Captain, Derek Jeter, retired back in 2014, there hasn’t been a cornerstone at that position for New York. Didi Gregorius became a fan-favorite during his stint with the New York Yankees from 2015-19. Gleyber Torres had his worst year as a pro defensively, and offensively, as the starting shortstop after Didi’s departure. So the Yankees went and traded for Isiah Kiner-Falefa with the hopes he would bring a strong defensive presence to the position. IKF had a tumultuous year. Occasionally he flashed some leather at shortstop, or even came up with a clutch hit, but he didn’t necessarily win the hearts of the Yankees fans.
That brings us to Spring Training. The Yankees have an open competition for shortstop between last years starter IKF, Oswald Peraza, who got some good run at the end of the season and even in the ALCS against Houston, and Anthony Volpe, the Yankees top prospect.
If the Yankees decide Oswald Peraza is their Opening Day shortstop, Aaron Boone said he could see Isiah Kiner-Falefa filling multiple roles on the roster, including the outfield.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 2, 2023
Yankees play-by-play broadcaster, Michael Kay, told a story on YES Network about general manager Brian Cashman telling Volpe he had a real chance to win the starting job, and Volpe worked his tail off to get it.
What does the future have in store for the biggest prospects in the Yankees organization? @boblorenz, @JackCurryYES, and @RealMichaelKay discuss the likes of Volpe, Peraza, Dominguez, Pereira, and Wells. pic.twitter.com/Uni5bkoutB
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) December 27, 2022
Volpe has been sensational this spring. In 17 at bats, he is batting .353 with one home run, three stolen bases, and a 1.097 OPS. That’s very impressive for your number one prospect. However, with all that being said, the edge will most likely go in favor of Oswald Peraza. Peraza got a taste of the big leagues at the end of last season and performed well. When IKF and the Yankees were struggling against Houston in the playoffs, he got a shot to be the starting shortstop. He didn’t do anything that caught people’s eyes offensively, but he made a sensational play defensively that proved to everyone, in that moment, he was a starting caliber shortstop in the bigs.
Volpe will make his debut sooner rather than later. Boone has mentioned several times he plans to shake up the fielding alignment by getting Giancarlo Stanton in right field and Aaron Judge in left field, thereby getting a combination of Peraza, Volpe, and Cabrera in the lineup.
If you’re Aaron Boone, having too many good, young players is a great problem to have.