The New York Yankees confirmed on Thursday that shortstop Anthony Volpe underwent a left shoulder arthroscopic labral repair this week. The shoulder issue is one the 24-year-old has dealt with since feeling a “pop” during an early May game against the Tampa Bay Rays.
According to manager Aaron Boone, Volpe will start a hitting program in mid-February and cannot dive on the shoulder “for about six months.” The team will have a better idea in three-to-four months if the recovery timeline needs to be adjusted.
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While Volpe received a pair of cortisone injections during the regular season, he re-aggravated the injury in September, causing him to miss five games. During that stretch, general manager Brian Cashman said surgery had not been recommended at that time.
Volpe batted .212 with 19 home runs and 72 RBI in 153 regular-season games and also committed a career-high 19 errors. In the playoffs, he batted .192 with one homer, 2 RBI and 16 strikeouts in seven games.
In other Yankees injury news, Boone revealed that starting pitcher Carlos Rodón had surgery to shave down a bone spur in his left elbow. He will not throw for eight weeks and will likely be delayed when it comes to the start of the 2026 season.
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As far as two pitchers who needed Tommy John surgery, ace Gerrit Cole is not expected to be ready for Opening Day and will likely ramp up his recovery during Spring Training.
“[Cole’s] doing well,” Boone said. “He starts getting off the mound a little bit, lightly, next week and then in the next few weeks he’ll have a de-load, back off session.”
Clarke Schmidt, meanwhile, could be available in the second half of the season.
Two-time AL MVP Aaron Judge will not need to go under the knife for an elbow issue that affected him in the second half of the season. The Yankees right-fielder missed 10 straight games due to a flexor strain in his right elbow over the summer. When he returned from the injured list, he served as the team’s designated hitter for a month.
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Boone confirmed that Judge will be the full-time right-fielder next season.
“He’ll take some time off and continue to do strengthening things and rehab stuff,” Boone said.
The Yankees begin the 2026 season in San Francisco on March 25.
