Anthony Volpe’s defense has taken a nosedive this season. The youngster shortstop was a gold glove winner in 2023 with a solid +15 Defensive Runs Saved. That number sits at +2 this year. His 12 errors are the joint-most among all American League shortstops. These are not small falloffs in production. They paint a vivid picture of a player mired in a deep defensive slump.
In 2024, Volpe’s range was truly special. He had a +14 OAA (Outs Above Average), which ranked in the 97th percentile in the league. So far, that number this season has plummeted to a jaw-dropping -2. His Fielding Run Value, which accounts for his defense in total, has plummeted from +10 to -2. This isn’t just a rough patch; it’s a measurable fall, as the eye test and the advanced data both affirm.
But manager Aaron Boone has another take on this mound of evidence. Interviewed recently, he provided a sunnier view on his shortstop’s performance. “Yeah, I mean, we’re talking about a few extra errors,” Boone said, before adding, “That’s the separator of when he wins a gold glove and when he’s not.”
And then came the declarative statement that rattled many fans: “He’s still a top shortstop.” Boone argued that a few errors have spurred the negative buzz, insisting Volpe “hasn’t made a few plays that have generated a lot of noise.” The skipper believes the reason why the metrics have soured is “because he hasn’t made three or four plays. That crushes you a little bit.”
Aaron Boone says “a few plays” have created the negative narrative around Anthony Volpe’s defense this season
“He’s still a top shortstop.” pic.twitter.com/VlikpajatS
— Talkin’ Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 22, 2025
These comments left many scratching their heads. Volpe’s problems extend well beyond his glove. His bat has not given any cover to his gaffes in the field. In 98 games, he is slashing a .216 with a subpar. 686 OPS. That’s a good 11 percent below the league average for production.
Yankees great Alex Rodriguez had a blunt take: “You just cannot win a World Series” with that kind of production. Longtime NY Post columnist Joel Sherman even described Volpe’s situation as a “death spiral” and not just a mere slump.
So, the massive disconnect between the manager’s words and the on-field reality has not gone unnoticed. Indeed, it has sparked a backlash from the club’s loyal fans. It’s safe to say fans are not happy.
Fans fire back at Boone
When Aaron Boone called Anthony Volpe a “top shortstop,” fans armed with data immediately questioned his grasp on reality. “Top shortstop in what world?” wrote a fan. This comment cuts to the core of the issue. By almost every key metric, Volpe is far from the top. A look at the Wins Above Replacement (WAR) leaderboard shows a huge gap. Elite shortstops like Bobby Witt Jr. (4.6 WAR) and Francisco Lindor (3.4 WAR) lead the league. In stark contrast, Volpe’s WAR is a mere 0.9.
The manager’s attempt to downplay the problem as just “a few extra errors” was met with scratching criticism from another fan: “Not like he has the most errors in the AL or anything.” This fan’s sarcastic jab is rooted entirely in fact. Volpe’s 12 errors are not just “a few extra.” They are the joint-most among all American League shortstops.
Fans feel Boone’s analysis of his young shortstop goes beyond professional support. “Bro is literally in love with Volpe,” a fan chimed in. That doesn’t sound accurate, but this feeling is built on a long history of Boone’s hyperbolic defenses of Volpe. In August 2024, he called Volpe “the best defender in the league.” More famously, he once said “he’s bleeping elite” to a reporter while talking about Volpe.
When a player struggles this much with no consequences, fans resort to humor to make sense of it. “Volpe must have blackmail on this man,” read another comment. This jab stems from watching high-stakes failures from Volpe go unpunished. Against the Cubs on July 13, Volpe floated a 62 mph throw and failed to charge a routine grounder. These perceived lapses, combined with his booted double-play ball that lost the game against the Angels, have been met with no benching.
For many, the handling of the Volpe situation is the final straw. It’s the most glaring example in a long line of frustrations with Boone’s leadership, leading to exasperated pleas for change. “Idk how many more ways we can beg for this imbecile to be fired,” one more X user comment.
Despite a good regular-season record, Boone’s tenure is defined by postseason failures. He is the first Yankees manager in eight years without a championship ring. Fans point to questionable in-game decisions that have plagued the team. Now, the defense of a struggling Volpe is only added to the fans’ frustration.
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