Anthony Volpe Blasts First MLB Homer, Yanks Fall to Twins
BRONX, NEW YORK - APRIL 14: Anthony Volpe #11 of the New York Yankees celebrates his first Major League home run in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on April 14, 2023 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
It hasn’t been as easy transition to the Major League’s for local hero Anthony Volpe, but the Watchung native flexed his muscle on Friday night, cracking a solo homer in the bottom of the first inning of the Yankees 4-3 loss to Minnesota at the Stadium.
The homer was Volpe’s first of his Major League career, and came days after he narrowly missed hitting one out in Baltimore.
Volpe raced around the bases at Yankee Stadium with a huge grin on his face as he greeted Aaron Judge with a high five.
It must have rubbed off, because the reigning home run champ and League MVP cracked his fifth dinger of the year to give the Yankees a 2-0 lead.
As for the game itself, Clay Holmes couldn’t shut down the Twins, who rallied for two runs in the eighth inning to win in Yankee Stadium for the second consecutive night. The Twins are no joke, standing at 10-4 on the early season. The Yankees fell to 8-6. The good news for New York is that Tampa Bay lost its first game of the year to Toronto, meaning the Bombers are still five back in the AL East.
New Jersey's Anthony Volpe Called Up By The New York Yankees
Anthony Volpe has officially been called up by the New York Yankees. The baseball player was informed of the team’s decision on Sunday afternoon that he will be a part of the Opening Day roster.
The New Jersey native was originally assigned to the Double-A Somerset Patriots in April of 2022 as the team’s number-one prospect. Now, Volpe will show his “Pinstripe Pride” live from Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.
Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone pulled quite the prank on Volpe in his office today before breaking the news to one of Major League Baseball’s newest players. You can watch the video below to see Volpe’s live reaction.
All eyes were on Volpe in recent weeks during Big League Camp. His impressive stats and hard work paid off because he’s now the Yankees’ Opening Day shortstop, according to mlb.com.
The 21-year-old entered spring training this year as the No. 5 overall prospect in Major League Baseball. As reported by mlb.com, the last player this young to start a season opener for the New York Yankees was Derek Jeter in 1996.
The New York Yankees will play the San Francisco Giants on Opening Day (Thursday, March 30) at 1:05 pm.
Michael Cohen is the News and Sports Director at Fox Sports Radio New Jersey and Magic 98.3 FM, as well as a radio production assistant with Fox and Magic in New Jersey. He started his career in Somerset in 2018 initially as a news fill-in at WCTC 1450 AM, and soon moved up to higher responsibilities in the ensuing years, assuming News & Sports Director title in 2021Prior to his time with Fox Sports New Jersey, Michael was play-by-play voice for New Jersey Jackals baseball, and as well as play-by-play and color for the College of Staten Island basketball (men and women), softball and baseball. Michael began his career as a news and sportswriter with the Jersey Journal of Hudson County.